Wyoming Gov: State shouldn't appeal gay marriage loss

Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead believes gay marriage ban is still worth defending. (AP Photo/Ben Neary)

Riverton, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead says the state shouldn't appeal if a federal judge rules against it in a federal lawsuit challenging the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

Mead addressed the issue Thursday night in a Wyoming Public Television debate in Riverton.

A federal judge in Casper heard arguments Thursday from lawyers representing the state and gay marriage advocates who are challenging the state ban.

The U.S. Supreme Court recently refused to reconsider decisions by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver striking down same-sex marriage bans in Utah and Oklahoma. Wyoming is also in the 10th Circuit.

However, Mead says he regards the challenge to Wyoming's law worth defending because it focused on the state constitution rather than the federal constitution.

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The Gayly – October 17, 2014 @ 10:15am