Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is asking that a broad panel of judges take part in a hearing on a challenge to Wisconsin’s gay marriage ban.
Van Hollen on Monday asked that all ten active judges in the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals hear arguments in an appeal of a federal judges’ ruling that struck down Wisconsin’s gay marriage ban. The states wants to join a request from Indiana, which will have its appeal of a ruling striking down the state’s ban on gay marriage heard at the same time. The court consolidated the two cases last week.
Typically, cases at the appellate level are heard and decided by a three-judge panel. In a filing with the court, Van Hollen argues the unusual step of having all judges hear the appeal reflects the “question of exceptional importance” the case represents in the Seventh Circuit and nationally.
The court is expected to hear arguments in both appeals on August 13th.