Arkansas high court dodges gay marriage

LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Supreme Court could avoid having to resolve the sex-marriage debate after justices decided a separate case is needed before they can hear it — a move that will likely push the consideration until after the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the same topic.

The state Supreme Court on Thursday ruled a new case is needed to decide whether Justice Rhonda Wood, who was sworn-in in January, after the other justices heard arguments in the case, should help decide whether gay marriage is legal in Arkansas.

More than 500 same-sex couples married in Arkansas after a Pulaski County judge ruled in May that the ban violated the U.S. and state constitutions. The state appealed, and justices in November heard oral arguments on the case, which they agreed to expedite.

Atty. Gen. Leslie Rutledge asked the court for a new hearing after Wood and Robin Wynne were sworn-in this year. But the state Supreme Court, which was not responding directly to Rutledge’s filing, singled out only Wood, who replaced a judge who recused himself during November arguments.

The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in April and have a decision by June. If the high court rules same-sex couples can marry, state justices would have clear federal direction. Otherwise, the Arkansas justices will decide on the state’s ban.