Tenth Circuit set to hear Utah, Oklahoma marriage cases this month

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit on April 10 will hear arguments in the appeal of a federal ruling overturning Utah's constitutional amendment barring same-sex marriage.

The arguments will be heard by a three-judge panel.

Then, on April 17, the Tenth Circuit will hear arguments on a federal ruling overturning Oklahoma's ban on same-sex marriage.

The three judges who will hear the Utah case are Paul Kelly Jr, who was nominated by President George H.W. Bush and confirmed in 1992, Carlos Lucero, who was nominated by President Bill Clinton and confirmed in 1995 and Jerome Holmes, who was nominated by President George W. Bush and confirmed in 2006.

Holmes was one of two judges who denied the state of Utah's request for a stay after the district court judge ruled against the marriage ban.

The Human Rights Campaign, in its latest tally of marriage equality lawsuits, says there are at least 55 cases pending in 28 states — including in Wisconsin — and Puerto Rico. There are 250 plaintiffs challenging the anti-gay laws.

There are seven other cases at the federal appeals court level and they are challenging bans in Nevada, Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Ohio and Michigan.

The only states with anti-gay marriage laws not facing lawsuits are Alaska, Georgia, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Save the dates from HRC: 

• Kitchen v. Herbert, Utah, Tenth Circuit: April 10
• Bishop v. Smith, Oklahoma, Tenth Circuit: April 17
• Bostic v. Schaefer, Virginia, Fourth Circuit: May 13
• The first filings in Love v. Beshear (Kentucky) and Tanco v. Haslam (Tennessee), both in the sixth circuit, are due on May 7. Oral arguments have not been set yet.