State Appeals Court To Hear Gay Marriage Ban Amendment Arguments

Arguments are being heard today in Kansas City on whether the Secretary of State should be compelled to place the same-sex marriage ban on the August ballot. The State Supreme Court has declined to rush the process and take up the issue immediately as requested by the Attorney General. So, the AG office has appealed a circuit court ruling to the Western District Court of Appeals in Kansas City, which has scheduled a hearing for this morning. Secretary of State spokesman Spence Jackson says his office goes into the hearing confident Judge Richard Callahan’s ruling upholding its position will stand. In the ruling Friday, Callahan stated the Secretary of State didn’t need to act, because it hadn’t received the official resolution. Jackson says that’s the point his office has been trying to make. The appeals court is expected to make a quick ruling that then could go to the State Supreme Court for a final ruling.