A federal judge in South Dakota has granted plaintiffs' motion for summary judgment and in favor of marriage equality in that state. Federal District Judge Karen Shreier ruled that South Dakota's ban(s) on marriages of same-sex couples violates the due process and equal protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution. The ruling is stayed pending a possible appeal to the Eighth Circuit.
Statement From NCLR:
“We are thrilled for our clients and for all same-sex couples in South Dakota, who have watched and waited as progress has been made in so many other states, and who can now see light at the end of the tunnel in their own state. We are also grateful to Judge Shreier for writing such a detailed and powerful analysis and for affirming in such strong terms that same-sex couples have the same fundamental freedom to marry as others. We hope this decision will hasten the day when the Supreme Court decides this issue for the country and ensures that all families are treated fairly and equally under the law.”
Also, the SCOTUS has denied cert. in the Louisiana marriage equality case. They have rescheduled the four cases from the Sixth Circuit for their conference on Friday.
4:45 PM PT: As always, the entire opinion can be read at the link provided in the Equality Case Files tweet posted above.