Comparison Case: Obergefell

Court puts equality over states’ rights.

In a recent ruling the Supreme Court ruled that states’ legal definitions of traditional, heterosexual marriage and a denial of same-sex marriage violated the Fourteenth Amendment’s equal protection clause. Several cases were filed in federal courts across the country, Obergefell’s out of Cincinnati, and several others reached the court in 2015. Listen to the recent report from NPR (National Public Radio) below and answer the questions.

Link to NPR

 

Questions for Completion:

1. What exactly was at issue in this case?

2. How did the Supreme Court rule and what was the vote?

3. What was the Court’s reasoning for its ruling?

4. What impact do you believe this ruling will have?

Photo/Image: “Marriage Equality Decision Day Rally” by Elvert Barnes via Creative Commons