New Bill Would Strip Federal Courts' Ability to Redefine Marriage

Ben Johnson : May 1, 2015
LifeSiteNews.com

One can only hope and pray.

(Washington, DC)—Observers on both sides of the fight to protect marriage now await the Supreme Court's ruling about whether the Constitution confers a right to same-sex "marriage." But some pro-family leaders in Congress have introduced a bill to get the judges out of the business of redefining marriage. (Photo: Congressman Steve King/via LifeSiteNews)

Congressman Steve King, R-IA, introduced the Restrain the Judges on Marriage Act of 2015, which would strip all federal courts of the right to change state laws on marriage.

"For too long, federal courts have overstepped their constitutionally limited duty to interpret the Constitution," Congressman King said. "Rather, federal courts have perverted the Constitution to make law and create constitutional rights to things such as privacy, birth control, and abortion. These un-enumerated, so-called constitutionally-protected rights were not envisioned by our Founding Fathers."

"My bill would stop the court from destroying traditional marriage and preserve the votes of millions of voters in states that have passed bans on same sex marriage," the Iowa Republican—who has a strong record as a pro-life conservative—added.

His bill would prohibit federal courts from ruling on the issue and states that "no federal funds" will be used to try, or enforce, such rulings.

Although seldom-invoked, Congress has the power under Article III of the U.S. Constitution to exempt certain issues from judicial review, even from the Supreme Court—and even after arguments have begun.

Congress passed just such a bill to prevent the U.S. Supreme Court from ruling on the case Ex Parte McCardle in 1869. Justices had heard the arguments but not yet made a decision when Congress overrode the veto of President Andrew Johnson. The High Court acknowledged Congressional authority had been withdrawn and did not issue an independent ruling.

"Without jurisdiction the court cannot proceed at all in any case. Jurisdiction is power to declare the law, and when it ceases to exist, the only function remaining to the Court is that of announcing the fact and dismissing the case," the Court ruled. "The appeal of the petitioner in this case must be dismissed for want of jurisdiction."

"What's good for kids is to have a father role, a mother role and the two of them coming together making that sacrifice so that the children have the best opportunities to succeed," said Congressman King. "That's why we [hold] marriage so strongly and we've done so throughout all of the millennia"—a word cited by Justice Anthony Kennedy during the arguments.