Sixth Circuit Court Sets August Date For MI, OH, KY, And TN Marriage Hearings

Via Chris Johnson at Washington Blade:

The U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals has set August 6 as the single day to hear arguments in the five marriage equality cases pending before the court, setting up a historic day for each of the four states in the circuit. In four separate notices on Monday, the Sixth Circuit, which is located in Cincinnati, announced that arguments for the cases in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee will take place on August 6 at 1 pm. James Esseks, director of the American Civil Liberties Union LGBT project, said his organization welcomes the developments for each of the cases. His organization is assisting with litigation in the Ohio case. “We’re happy to see the Circuit taking up this issue so quickly,” Esseks said. “All the cases together reinforce how sweeping and widespread are the harms that come from the marriage bans.”

Only the Michigan case seeks full marriage equality. The Kentucky and Tennessee cases seek recognition of out-of-state marriages. The Ohio case seeks recognition of out-of-state marriages and for such marriages to be recognized on death certificates.