Gov. Rick Snyder says the state will recognize the marriages that were performed in Michigan last March. Those marriages were performed on March 22, 2014 - a day after a federal judge struck down Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage, and before another court put more of those marriages on hold while the case worked its way up through the courts.
Last month, a federal judge ruled those marriages must be recognized.
Snyder says his administration will not challenge the judge’s order issued last month.
From Gov. Snyder's press release:
Gov. Rick Snyder said today he will not appeal U.S. District Court Judge Mark Goldsmith’s ruling recognizing the validity of the approximately 300 same-sex couples married in four counties of Michigan on March 22, 2014 and issued the following statement: “The judge has determined that same-sex couples were legally married on that day, and we will follow the law and extend state marriage benefits to those couples. “I appreciate that the larger question will be addressed by the U.S. Supreme Court this year. This is an issue that has been divisive across our country. Our nation’s highest court will decide this issue. I know there are strong feelings on both sides of this issue, and it’s vitally important for an expedient resolution that will allow people in Michigan, as well as other states, to move forward together on the other challenges we face.”
Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to hear a case involving Michigan's ban on same-sex marriage along with other same-sex marriage cases from three other states.
For more on the politics behind this decision, you check-in herewith our It's Just Politics team.
