The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a petition challenging the 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, bringing relief to advocates while conservative groups vowed to continue their legal efforts. Kim Davis, a Kentucky county clerk previously jailed for refusing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, had sought reconsideration of the Obergefell v. Hodges decision that would have potentially reactivated state bans affecting 774,000 married same-sex couples nationwide.
Jim Obergefell, the original plaintiff whose name defines the landmark case, acknowledged the reprieve while cautioning against complacency. Republican support for same-sex marriage has declined to 41 percent from 55 percent since 2021, according to Gallup polling conducted in May, and legislators in six states have introduced resolutions urging the court to reverse its position.
Representative Heather Scott of Idaho, who sponsored such a measure, indicated plans to reintroduce similar legislation despite the court's refusal to revisit the matter. Legal experts noted no immediate cases threaten the precedent, though the 2022 federal statute protecting interstate marriage recognition does not guarantee marriage rights themselves.
Jim Obergefell, the original plaintiff whose name defines the landmark case, acknowledged the reprieve while cautioning against complacency. Republican support for same-sex marriage has declined to 41 percent from 55 percent since 2021, according to Gallup polling conducted in May, and legislators in six states have introduced resolutions urging the court to reverse its position.
Representative Heather Scott of Idaho, who sponsored such a measure, indicated plans to reintroduce similar legislation despite the court's refusal to revisit the matter. Legal experts noted no immediate cases threaten the precedent, though the 2022 federal statute protecting interstate marriage recognition does not guarantee marriage rights themselves.
