Four same-sex couples are seeking a preliminary injunction against Tennessee's ban on same-sex marriage and recognizing same-sex unions from other states, according to the Associated Press. The couples argue the ban violates their constitutinal rights to due process and equal protection, the AP also reported.
The Knoxville Daily Sun has run a report on the Tennessee Bar Association's position in favor of merit selection to fill judicial vacancies. The bar association's board of governors also voted to support a constitutional amendment "that provides for gubernatorial appointment, legislative confirmation and retention elections for judges." The governor has said he would consider the merit of candidates for his appointments, if the constitutional amendment is adopted by voters in the election a year from this month, according to the report.
Two same-sex couples who wedded in other states have filed a lawsuit to challenge both Tennessee's constitutional provision and statute banning same-sex marriage, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The Journal also reports that Shannon Minter, the legal director for the National Center for Lesbian Rights, said "the lawsuit is the 19th filed since the [U.S. Supreme Court] Windsor ruling [striking the federal Defense of Marriage Act ] came down, and one of only a handful filed in the south."
Lawyer and Legal Journalist
