# Attorneys General ask SCOTUS to take up marriage cases **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [September 5, 2014, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578 "2014-09-05T14:07:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/1 "2014-09-05T14:07:26Z")
17 AG’s have submitted a brief to SCOTUS asking them to take up the marriage cases from Utah, Virginia and Oklahoma so that the issue can be settled. An additional 15 AG’s requested the same thing, but specifically asking that they rule in favor of marriage equality. [http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/massachusetts-files-pro-gay-marriage-court-25253660](http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/massachusetts-files-pro-gay-marriage-court-25253660) The last paragraph - > [@](#): > > Even if concern for the unintended consequences of permitting same-sex couples to marry were a legitimate consideration here, the Court need not worry > that its intervention is being sought “too soon.” Based on our collective experience, the Amici States can attest that marriage equality has invigorated the institution. After more than ten years of marriage equality, we understand its implications: more couples who love one another are free to marry; more children are able to enjoy the benefits and protections that attend their parents’ marital relationship; more families enjoy the privileged status and security conferred by civil marriage; and more communities benefit from the stability marriage facilitates. The institution has not suffered or been fundamentally altered. Nor has marriage equality diminished the privileged status of marriage in our society. > > It is time for marriage equality nationwide. Never thought I’d see the day that 15 AG’s would say something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/96bed5/32.png) [@Patty\_O\_Furniture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patty_O_Furniture)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/2 "2014-09-05T15:47:14Z")
Shouldn’t that be 15 A’s G? ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/3 "2014-09-05T16:43:19Z")
It objectively wrong to put the descriptor like that behind the subject in American english because it sounds sooo wrong! WRONG I SAY! Either change it to General Attorneys or just accept that people are going to say Attorney Generals! Or else! :mad::mad::mad::mad: ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/4 "2014-09-05T17:33:46Z")
To my understanding, attorneys general is the correct plural. Although merriam-webster does list attorney generals as another option. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/5 "2014-09-05T17:45:08Z")
_shakes fist_ NO! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/6 "2014-09-05T17:45:57Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > 17 AG’s have submitted a brief to SCOTUS asking them to take up the marriage cases from Utah, Virginia and Oklahoma so that the issue can be settled. An additional 15 AG’s requested the same thing, but specifically asking that they rule in favor of marriage equality. I still expect the court to take up this issue in the fall and legalize SSM on a federal basis in the spring. But we’ll see. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/7 "2014-09-05T18:10:31Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > To my understanding, attorneys general is the correct plural. Although merriam-webster does list attorney generals as another option. It is. That is, it’s the formal plural, and if you’re following a style guide, most likely, that’s the one it’s going to opt for. I agree with **YogSooth** , though. It sounds a bit unnatural in English. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/8 "2014-09-05T18:22:58Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > It objectively wrong to put the descriptor like that behind the subject in American english because it sounds sooo wrong! WRONG I SAY! Either change it to General Attorneys or just accept that people are going to say Attorney Generals! Or else! :mad::mad::mad::mad: Yikes! Who knew a thread about marriage equality could be so controversial? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/9 "2014-09-05T18:47:40Z")
> [@Marley23](#): > > I still expect the court to take up this issue in the fall and legalize SSM on a federal basis in the spring. But we’ll see. This court? That would be the logical, proper and decent thing to do, so I’m not holding my breath. Scalia will find some way of torturing the Constitution into justifying rejecting SSM. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/10 "2014-09-05T19:03:10Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > Yikes! Who knew a thread about marriage equality could be so controversial? I think we need a Supreme Court ruling on the proper plural form. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/11 "2014-09-05T19:04:27Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > This court? That would be the logical, proper and decent thing to do, so I’m not holding my breath. Scalia will find some way of torturing the Constitution into justifying rejecting SSM. There aren’t nine Scalias. I think the four liberal justices would probably support overturning all SSM bans, and Roberts or Kennedy, who wrote the _Windsor_ decision, might do the same. ---
**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\ **Post date:** [September 5, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/12 "2014-09-05T19:31:01Z")
> [@Antinor01](#): > > To my understanding, attorneys general is the correct plural. Although merriam-webster does list attorney generals as another option. I generally refer collectively to our several canines as “Puppies Dog” instead of “Puppy Dogs”. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2014, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/13 "2014-09-06T04:39:37Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I think we need a Supreme Court ruling on the proper plural form. Or a consensus of decisions from the fifty State Courts Supreme. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2014, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/14 "2014-09-06T11:57:08Z")
> [@BrotherCadfael](#): > > I generally refer collectively to our several canines as “Puppies Dog” instead of “Puppy Dogs”. Not to mention my mother-in-laws – because I have several different mothers, under the different laws of different states. ---
**Author:** ![Leaper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/4bbf92/32.png) [@Leaper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaper)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2014, 12:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/15 "2014-09-06T12:06:05Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > It objectively wrong to put the descriptor like that behind the subject in American english because it sounds sooo wrong! WRONG I SAY! Either change it to General Attorneys or just accept that people are going to say Attorney Generals! Or else! :mad::mad::mad::mad: _cough_Passers-by_cough_ ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2014, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/16 "2014-09-06T18:04:25Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > I think we need a Supreme Court ruling on the proper plural form. Yes, a civilian ruling, not by one of those court-martials. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2014, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/17 "2014-09-06T19:53:04Z")
Much as I liked the statement of the 15 AGs [sic], it is not an argument over the _constitutionality_ of the states’ bans, only for why their foolishness. Especially with that ruling from LA, the court can hardly duck the case now. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [September 6, 2014, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/18 "2014-09-06T20:09:21Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Much as I liked the statement of the 15 AGs [sic], it is not an argument over the _constitutionality_ of the states’ bans, only for why their foolishness. Especially with that ruling from LA, the court can hardly duck the case now. Oh certainly. That was just their summary of a multi-page brief. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/19 "2014-09-07T03:26:32Z")
I have no problem with attorneys general, but AsG is stupid. Do you type MsiL instead of MiLs? Abbreviations take their plural S at the end. And I have also suspected that the LA case was decided as it was to force this to go to the Supreme Court. It otherwise seems to contradict all the other findings. Redder states have had it decided against SSM discrimination. ---
**Author:** ![Antinor01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecae2f/32.png) [@Antinor01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antinor01)\ **Post date:** [September 7, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578/20 "2014-09-07T03:35:54Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I have no problem with attorneys general, but AsG is stupid. Do you type MsiL instead of MiLs? Abbreviations take their plural S at the end. > > And I have also suspected that the LA case was decided as it was to force this to go to the Supreme Court. It otherwise seems to contradict all the other findings. Redder states have had it decided against SSM discrimination. Though doesn’t it go to the circuit first? If the circuit court goes the way the rest have, that still leaves SCOTUS an out. (at least to my understanding…limited as it is) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/attorneys-general-ask-scotus-to-take-up-marriage-cases/697578.md?page=2)