Alaska’s Attorney General has signed on to an amicus brief to the US Supreme Court that says same-sex marriage bans should be upheld. Fifteen states, including eight that currently allow same-sex marriages, signed the brief. It says allowing the federal government to force all states to recognize same-sex marriages would demean the democratic process and cause “incalculable damage to our civic life.”
The attorney general’s office issued a statement saying they signed the brief because “the Attorney General has a duty to defend Alaska’s Constitution.” The Supreme Court will hear arguments on the case in late April and make a final ruling on the issue later this year.
Same-sex marriage was legalized in Alaska in October when a federal court judge overturned the ban. He cited previous decisions by the 9th Circuit Court.
Anne Hillman is the healthy communities editor at Alaska Public Media and a host of Hometown, Alaska. Reach her atahillman@alaskapublic.org. Read more about Annehere.
