Which justices supported doma

In the meantime, click here for our analysis from earlier this year. Say "Alexa, enable the Pew Research Center flash briefing". It organizes the public into nine distinct groups, based on an analysis of their attitudes and values. Even in a polarized era, the survey reveals deep divisions in both partisan coalitions. Use this tool to compare the groups on some key topics and their demographics. Pew Research Center now uses as the last birth year for Millennials in our work.

President Michael Dimock explains why. Windsor , the case that tests the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act DOMA , those predictions started to make sense.

In their questioning, Justices Elena Kagan, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Ruth Bader Ginsburg focussed on equal protection and anti-gay animus—the way that DOMA carves out a class of married same-sex couples, those who were legally married in the state where they live, and excludes them from federal laws and benefits accorded married heterosexual couples.

Activists are hoping that shifting public opinion on the issue, most recently demonstrated by election-day victories in all four states where same sex-marriage measures were on the ballot , will convince the judges to take on the issue. Up for decision is a set of cases relating to the Defense of Marriage Act Doma , a law which states that every time any federal law refers to marriage, it means only that between a man and a woman.

Same-sex couples who are legally married in one of nine states or Washington DC are thus denied the benefits or opportunities afforded by marriage to opposite-sex couples. Five federal courts have ruled that Doma is unconstitutional. The Supreme Court could decide to take on one or more of these cases. The judges will also decide whether to consider an appeal from supporters of California's Proposition 8, a voter-approved amendment to the state constitution which seeks to ban same-sex marriage.

Another petition before the justices relates to the state of Arizona, which is seeking to revive a state law that is similar to Doma. Four Supreme Court justices must agree a case in order for the court to take it. They can take up all of the measures before them, none of them or some. The justices are expected to announce a decision on 30 November. Advocates of marriage equality are hoping that the tide of public opinion that has been demonstrated by polls over this year will persuade the justices to strike down Doma.

There will be more to celebrate. Richard Socarides is an attorney, political strategist, writer, and longtime gay-rights advocate. Follow him on Twitter Socarides. Richard Socarides is an attorney and longtime gay-rights advocate. He served in the White House during the Clinton Administration and has also been a political strategist. He now oversees public affairs at GLG. Opinions expressed here are only his own.

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