WA Supreme Court to Hear Marriage Challenge

September 1, 2004

King County, Washington is appealing a ruling that same-sex couples should be issued marriage licenses to the state Supreme Court.

County Superior Court Judge William Downing said that the state Constitution guarantees basic rights to lesbian and gay people - and that those rights are violated by a state law prohibiting same-sex couples from marrying.

The case involved eight same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses in King County.

Downing called the eight couples law-abiding, taxpaying model citizens, and said, There is no worthwhile institution that they would dishonor, much less destroy.

Downing delayed implementation of his ruling until the state Supreme Court has considered the matter.

While parties have agreed to an expedited schedule that skips the Court of Appeals level, the Supreme Court still has the final say. The high court can agree to hear the cases and set a date or it can send them back to be heard by the Court of Appeals.

Meanwhile, Thursday, A Superior Court judge in Thurston County will a second gay-marriage lawsuit brought against the state by several gay couples from across the state.

No matter how the Thurston County case turns out it will be appealed. Most legal experts believe the Supreme Court will hear both cases as the same time