The United States Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday over whether the U.S. constitution allows for same-sex marriage. The justices’ decision could impact same-sex couples in Arizona.
The Supreme Court will be considering two questions: does the 14th amendment require states to issue a marriage license to two people of the same sex and does the 14th amendment require a state to recognize a same-sex marriage lawfully performed by another state.
In October, a federal district court judge struck down Arizona’s ban on same-sex marriage.
Kaiponanea Matsumura, a professor of law at Arizona State University, said if the justices rule in favor of same-sex couples, not much would change here in Arizona. But he said a ruling against could throw the legality of same-sex marriages already performed in the state into question.
"A different decision by the U.S. Supreme Court would raise the question to what extent some of those earlier decisions are valid so it would just be a big question mark," he said.
The ruling is due by the end of June.
