The U.S. Supreme Court has announced its decision to review the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) and California’s marriage amendment.
DOMA, signed into federal law by President Clinton in 1996, defines marriage as between one man and one woman.
Proposition 8 is a constitutional amendment stating "only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California." It overturned a state law in California redefining marriage and was put in place after a popular vote on the issue in the 2008 state elections.
All fifty states
The hearing could lead to the redefinition of marriage in all fifty U.S. states.
The cases are likely to be heard in March next year, with rulings expected to be issued in June.
"There's at least the potential that by the end of June all 50 states will be ordered to have gay marriage," Jeffrey Toobin, an expert on the Supreme Court, told CNN.
Lower courts
Same-sex ‘marriage’ proponents say that voters in California breached the U.S. constitution in passing Proposition 8. They argue that the original Supreme Court ruling redefining marriage should stand.
DOMA has been overturned by four federal courts and two courts of appeal, most recently by New York’s 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals.
Significantly, President Obama has said that his administration will not defend DOMA in court.
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