[Semper Paratus]

The Mass SC did not say yea or nay, just the legislature has to make a decision.

Wish that was so but the ruling ordered the legislature to change the current statue to strike out 'between man and a woman' saying the only constitutional phrase is between 2 people.

Need a constitutional amedndment and that won't get to the voter for 3 years.

Can't wait to see the Boston Globe marriages page in 6 months.

[longtermmemmory]

Do they HAVE to change that law or do they have to "address the issue"? Can the mass constitution be amended before then?

The 180 days seems arbitrary, I wonder if the state can appeal on that issue alone since the Constitution is going to be ammended in 2006. (seperation of powers, the courts can't order the legislature to write laws, only rule on the ones there. Well that is the theory)

[concerned about politics]

ruling ordered the legislature

That's backwards. The Legislature makes the laws, the courts make sure they're upheld.
Since when do the courts have the right to dictate the law to the law makers?
That would be like SCOTUS running our House and Senate!