On October 13, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has been criticized from every corner of the state, filed a Supplemental Response In Support Of Pass-Through Certification, asking the Third District Court of Appeal to “pass through” jurisdiction and allow two same-sex marriage cases to be heard by the Florida Supreme Court.
The two cases, Pareto v. Ruvin (Equality Florida Institute and six plaintiff couples) and Huntsman v. Heavilin, have been consolidated, and attorneys had asked the Third DCA to pass through to the Florida Supreme Court. At the time, AG Bondi wanted to wait until the U.S. Supreme Court took up the issue, but now the U.S. Supreme Court has deferred to the courts in each state.
STATEMENT FROM EQUALITY FLORIDA
“While we look forward to having this matter move forward to the Florida Supreme Court, and asked for this on July 30th, AG Bondi and Governor Rick Scott continue to waste taxpayer money while same-sex couples throughout the state continue to endure the indignities of being treated like second-class citizens.
“Nearly two-thirds of the country now live in a state that values equality. How much longer must loving couples in Florida wait to protect their families? Now is the time for AG Bondi and Gov Scott to step on the right side of history and not let Florida go down in history as one of the last states to uphold the principles of fairness.”
-Nadine Smith, CEO, Equality Florida
Media Contact: Sharon Kersten 954.314.7288 / kerstenPR@att.net