FLORIDA: Liberty Counsel Denied Motion To Intervene In Same-Sex Marriage Suits

The Liberty Counsel has been denied in their motion to intervene in two of Florida's same-sex marriage lawsuits, one of which was filed by the ACLU.

U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle on Thursday denied the request by the Florida Family Policy Council, which is seeking to preserve the constitutional ban, but said the group could file amicus briefs on the issues presented in the case. The Florida Family Policy Council was the leading anti-gay group that advocated for the amendment when it was approved by 62 percent of voters in 2008. Earlier in the week, Hinkle consolidated the two federal cases, both of which were filed in U.S. District Court in Tallahassee.

The Liberty Counsel filed its motion in February on behalf of PULSE, a coalition of black churches, the Florida Democratic League, a group of right-wing Hispanic "Democrats," and the above-cited Florida Family Policy Council, the group that used ugly tactics to fight a same-sex adoption case in 2010.

RELATED: There are two other marriage suits in progress in Florida in addition to the two cases joined on Thursday.