# When is SCOTUS due to rule on the latest gay marriage issue?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 6, 2015, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782 "2015-06-06T14:23:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\
**Post date:** [June 13, 2015, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/21 "2015-06-13T11:26:42Z")

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game of thrones ends Sunday so I guess that’s why they will have a lot more work done starting next week. 🙂

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**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\
**Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/22 "2015-06-15T19:35:26Z")

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They released more opinions today, but not SSM (Obergfell v. Hodges).

There was some speculation today because Obergfell was at the head of the line. But he won’t get any insider tips about when his case ruling will be released. He has apparently stated his intention to be at the court every date until his case is released.

SCOTUSblog says the court has 17 opinions left to deliver this term. As of the time of this post the Court only has 3 more dates for opinions on the calendar. 5+ opinions per date would be a lot. Expect to see even more dates added to the calendar.

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**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\
**Post date:** [June 18, 2015, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/23 "2015-06-18T16:05:53Z")

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Six more opinions released today, a heavy day. Still no SSM case.

That leaves 11 cases remaining.

The court calendar currently shows only the two remaining Mondays in June to release the remaining opinions. Court watchers still anticipate one more day will be added next week for releasing opinions. We may know later today.

And, yes, Game of Thrones aired its season finale. Now the justices can focus and wrap things up. 😛

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**Author:** ![whc.03grady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a6a055/32.png) [@whc.03grady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whc.03grady)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/24 "2015-06-20T15:09:34Z")

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> [@Derleth](#):
>
> But it can’t be Monday because the judge said the date would be a surprise, and we’re all expecting Monday!

I see what you did there.

> **[Unexpected hanging paradox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unexpected_hanging_paradox)**
>
> The unexpected hanging paradox or surprise test paradox is a paradox about a person's expectations about the timing of a future event which they are told will occur at an unexpected time. The paradox is variously applied to a prisoner's hanging or a surprise school test. It was first introduced to the public in Martin Gardner's March 1963 Mathematical Games column in Scientific American magazine.
> There is no consensus on its precise nature and consequently a canonical resolution has not been ag...

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/25 "2015-06-20T18:23:12Z")

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> [@Iggy](#):
>
> There was some speculation today because Obergfell was at the head of the line. But he won’t get any insider tips about when his case ruling will be released.

Why the great mystery? In Canada, anyone can sign up to the Supreme Court’s media release service to get all media releases by e-mail, and the Court generally gives about three days notice that it plans to release a decision.

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**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\
**Post date:** [June 20, 2015, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/26 "2015-06-20T18:53:09Z")

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It seems to have escaped your notice that Canada and America are two different countries.

As such, differences in the way that things operate is not surprising.

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**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/27 "2015-06-21T00:36:58Z")

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Supreme court seems to be the only place in DC with no leaks of information at all. They really run a very tight ship.

Of course in some cases for Congress and White house the leaks are deliberate as a way to test the waters. That way if the reaction is bad they can change their plans.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/28 "2015-06-21T16:42:57Z")

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> [@Flyer](#):
>
> It seems to have escaped your notice that Canada and America are two different countries.

His point is that there is no inherent reason to keep the announcement date a secret.

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**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/29 "2015-06-21T17:32:28Z")

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by not announcing dates they can delay things if they are running behind schedule and nobody will know about the delay.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/30 "2015-06-21T17:35:34Z")

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Yes, thanks for the snark, **Flyer**. I’m well aware of the difference in the countries.

I’m asking why the Supreme Court in the US seems to feel even the date of the decision should be kept secret, and gave a counter-example of a Supreme Court in a similar system that believes in giving advance notice to the public when a decision will come out.

Why does the SCOTUS not announce the date in advance? Has it ever given any policy statement why it takes this approach?

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**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/31 "2015-06-21T17:47:12Z")

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another thing to remember is they set their own rules which is one reason they take the summer off. Congress gets a summer break but it’s not 3 months. Nobody would put up with Congress taking all summer off.

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**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/32 "2015-06-21T19:28:16Z")

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The Supreme Court of Canada also sets its own rules.

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**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/33 "2015-06-21T20:08:11Z")

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> [@Bijou\_Drains](#):
>
> another thing to remember is they set their own rules which is one reason they take the summer off. Congress gets a summer break but it’s not 3 months. Nobody would put up with Congress taking all summer off.

I for one would be delighted if Congress took all summer off. Doing nothing? My idea of a perfect Congress.

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**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\
**Post date:** [June 21, 2015, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/34 "2015-06-21T20:56:15Z")

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I would bet that Obamacare case comes out this week. And SSM June 29th or their last day this year.

Most of them have plans of vacation or other events in July but they do stick around in early July on rare occasions.

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**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/35 "2015-06-22T00:07:28Z")

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> [@Bijou\_Drains](#):
>
> by not announcing dates they can delay things if they are running behind schedule and nobody will know about the delay.

Meh. Every now and then the SCC issues a second release, taking a case off the list and saying it will be released later. No big deal.

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**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/36 "2015-06-22T16:19:18Z")

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> [@Northern\_Piper](#):
>
> …  
> Why does the SCOTUS not announce the date in advance? Has it ever given any policy statement why it takes this approach?

Each and every Justice reserves the right to pull an opinion from the stack of opinions in the box(es) being carried into the courtroom. Any Justice can change his/her mind up to the moment the decision is announced.

So there is no absolute certainty that a particular decision will be announced on a particular date. It is rare, but such last minute changes have happened.

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**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/37 "2015-06-22T16:22:56Z")

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> [@Bijou\_Drains](#):
>
> another thing to remember is they set their own rules which is one reason they take the summer off. Congress gets a summer break but it’s not 3 months. Nobody would put up with Congress taking all summer off.

Taking the summer off from work in Washington is a relic of earlier days when the Justices would spread out to [ride circuit](https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Circuit_court#Supreme_Court_of_the_United_States), hearing Appeal Court cases during the summer months in the various Federal Court districts.

And they still remain on call for pressing appeals matters such as last minute death sentence appeals.

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**Author:** ![Iggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iggy/32/3364_2.png) [@Iggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Iggy)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/38 "2015-06-22T16:44:34Z")

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Four more opinions released today. Obergfell was in line again today. Still no SSM or Obamacare cases. That leaves 7 remaining cases for this term.

From today’s cases, Justice Kagan earns the pop culture award, writing on a trademark/patent matter with respect to royalties involving Spiderman. She included the line, “in this world, with great power there must also come—great responsibility” among other Spidey references.

Government agriculture programs took a blow as raisin farmers won a case arguing that the market limitations under a price support program constituted an unconstitutional taking without just compensation.

And civil liberties fans might like a privacy ruling about records required to be maintained by a hotel. A California law stipulating that certain such records could be searched by police without a warrant was ruled unconstitutional.

And one more opinion today related to what standard of proof to use in unreasonable force cases involving pre-trial detention. The Court let stand a two tier system, where those in pre-trial detention need only meet the same standard as those who have not been arrested. Those already convicted have a tougher burden of proof.

Finally…  
According to SCOTUSblog, the Marshall at the Court announced that an additional day for delivering opinions has been added for this coming Thursday June 25, 2015. That is in addition to the previously listed date for next Monday June 29.

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**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:** [June 22, 2015, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/39 "2015-06-22T19:44:03Z")

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> [@Iggy](#):
>
> And civil liberties fans might like a privacy ruling about records required to be maintained by a hotel. A California law stipulating that certain such records could be searched by police without a warrant was ruled unconstitutional.

Meh. The ruling doesn’t acknowledge any right to privacy for the hotel patrons. It was all about the hotel owner’s right to privacy.

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**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2015, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-is-scotus-due-to-rule-on-the-latest-gay-marriage-issue/721782/40 "2015-06-22T20:53:21Z")

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I think now it’s Obamacare on Thurs 25th and SSM monday 29th.

Just because summer off was true in the past doesn’t mean they need to keep it that way now. For example lots of kids now go to school in summer , they spread their time off all year long. Of course one reason they do that is because of air conditioning. they get 4 vacations of 3 weeks instead of one long 12 week summer break.

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