North Carolina Attorney General gives up on same-sex marriage fight

Colorado’s Attorney General John Suthers (R) may want to take note: North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper (R) will no longer defend the state’s same-sex marriage ban after the 4th Circuit Court in Virginia ruled same-sex marriage bans unconstitutional.

Cooper stated that he feels marriage equality is inevitable, and any defense of the ban would be futile. “I have concluded that the state of North Carolina will not oppose the cases moving forward,” Cooper said. “… Our office believes the judges in North Carolina are bound by this 4th Circuit decision.”

The Virginia decision also affects West Virginia and South Carolina, though their Attorney Generals have been less amiable to the court ruling. West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey (R) hasn’t made any comments aside from stating that the state’s same-sex marriage ban is still in effect. South Carolina General Alan Wilson (R) remains steadfastly opposed marriage equality and will be defending the state’s same-sex marriage ban.