The Supreme Court declines to wade into marriage battles in five states . Many legal analysts and advocates on both sides of the marriage fight suggested the court would either jump in now and decide the constitutional equal protection questions -- or put off consideration of those appeals and the larger issues indefinitely . A federal judge struck down the Defense of Marriage Act last year and ordered that same-sex marriages be recognized nationwide. The Supreme Court initially handed reporters a set of orders that was missing 30 pages . Its refusal to tackle the marriage cases was contained within those 30 pages .
The Supreme Court declines to wade into marriage battles in five states . A federal judge struck down the Defense of Marriage Act last year and ordered that same-sex marriages be recognized nationwide. The Supreme Court initially handed reporters a set of orders that was missing 30 pages . Its refusal to tackle the marriage cases was contained within those 30 pages .