Optimism For New Mexico Marriage
“I think the die was cast before we came in here,” State Sen. Bill Sharer, R-Farmington, told a reporter during a break at the hearing. Sharer is part of a group of current and former Republican lawmakers who have filed lawsuits trying to stop county clerks around the state from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. But, he added, “whatever happens here [in the Supreme Court] won’t be the last word. It’s not over until the people have spoken.”RELATED: Campbell works for the anti-gay Alliance Defending Freedom. Earlier this year another ADF attorney was found guilty on eight felony counts of producing child pornography. Starring her daughter. She was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Santa Fe couple Rose Griego and Kim Kiel — who are plaintiffs in the case before the high court Wednesday — both expressed optimism after the hearing. “I’m super excited,” Griego said. “It’s historic, and I’m so happy that this is going to help a lot of people.” Kiel agreed. “I feel really good that the outcome will be positive.” Griego and Kiel got married in Santa Fe in August after a judge ordered County Clerk Geraldine Salazar to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
During the hearing, Supreme Court justices questioned lawyers on both sides on points of law. Arizona attorney James Campbell, who represented the GOP legislators, seemed to get peppered with the most questions. At one point, Justice Richard Bosson asked Campbell point blank, “Why shouldn’t you be able to marry who you choose?” Campbell argued that the government has a compelling interest in marriage because it encourages “procreative relationships.” Bosson countered that in state marriage laws, “there’s not word one about encouraging procreation.”
Labels: Alliance Defense Fund, hate groups, LGBT rights, marriage equality, New Mexico, religion
