La. Supreme Court Dismisses Same-sex Marriage Appeal As Moot

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Louisiana's  Supreme Court has dismissed as moot an appeal of a state judge's ruling declaring the state's same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional.

Tuesday's state court ruling follows the U.S. Supreme Court's June 26 ruling assuring the rights of gay couples to marry nationwide.

The dismissal came on a 6-1 vote. Justice Jefferson Hughes dissented, but the other justices concluded that they were bound by the federal court ruling.

Still, there were critical voices among the majority. Justice Jeanette Knoll wrote a concurring opinion highly critical of the U.S. high court's 5-4 decision.

Louisiana  voters approved a 2004 amendment to the state constitution banning same-sex marriage. In September, state District Judge Edward Rubin of Lafayette ruled the ban unconstitutional, leading to the state Supreme Court appeal.

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