Wyoming’s Same-Sex Marriage Ban Struck Down

U.S. District Court Judge Scott Skavdahl struck down the same-sex marriage ban in Wyoming today, stating the decision by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals required this outcome.

Skavdahl wrote in his order, “It is not the desire or preference of this Court to, with the stroke of a pen, erase a State’s legislative enactments. Nonetheless, the binding precedent of [the 10th Circuit cases striking down other bans] mandate this result, and this Court will adhere to its Constitutional duties and abide by the rule of law.”

This sets Judge Skavdahl apart from other similar decisions because he fell back to the decided federal precedent of marriage equality, rather than finding that the same-sex marriage ban violated the 14th amendment on its own.

There is a temporary stay on the decision until October 23, giving officials time to appeal if they wish.