April 07, 2016
The First Circuit on Thursday ordered Puerto Rico to recognize same-sex marriages in a scathing opinion overriding a district judge who refused to follow its earlier order to enter a judgment enforcing the U.S. Supreme Court's Obergefell v. Hodges decision.
March 21, 2016
After a Puerto Rico federal judge declared earlier this month that the U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage doesn't apply to the territory, the couples and advocacy organization filing the suit, backed by the Puerto Rican government, on Monday asked the First Circuit to overrule him.
June 18, 2015
The First Circuit refused Wednesday to let eight senators and five representatives from Puerto Rico's Legislature join an appeal over a same-sex marriage ban after the commonwealth effectively dropped its defense, ruling the lawmakers had no legal interest in the case.
May 15, 2015
The Conference of Catholic Bishops of Puerto Rico entered the First Circuit battle over the commonwealth's same-sex marriage ban Thursday, saying the lower court was right to toss the suit challenging the ban because the couples suing lack standing to bring a constitutional claim.
April 08, 2015
Advocates asking the First Circuit to speed up its review of Puerto Rico's same sex marriage ban argued that the island's government continues to enforce the ban despite recognizing that the law is discriminatory and unconstitutional.
March 20, 2015
The Puerto Rican government Friday told the First Circuit it no longer defends its same-sex marriage ban, saying its executive branch now recognizes the LGBT community's right to equality under the law and urged it to reverse an October decision shooting down a constitutional challenge to the prohibition.
February 06, 2015
The District of Columbia and 15 states have joined the chorus of voices backing a First Circuit appeal of an October decision shooting down a constitutional challenge to Puerto Rico's gay marriage ban, arguing that the lower court's ruling is in "clear conflict" with the U.S. Constitution.