Senate contender blasts Supreme Court ‘judicial gymnastics’

Rep. James Lankford (R-Okla.) on Monday said that the Supreme Court had engaged in “judicial gymnastics” when it declined to revisit same-sex marriage.

Lankford, who is running to replace Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), said that the Supreme Court’s decision to decline considering cases involving Oklahoma, Indiana, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin effectively prevented states from implementing their own laws regarding same-sex marriage.

{mosads}”Now, through judicial gymnastics the Supreme Court has allowed federal court decisions to stand that directly conflict with the clear will of a state on marriage,” Lankford said. “The Court should not in one year say a state can make the decision on marriage and then in the next year allow a local federal judge to reject a state’s definition of marriage.”

The Oklahoma Republican argued the judicial branch should not alter the legal definition of marriage.

“Every person is created in God’s image and has value and worth. Every person should be respected and honored. But, marriage is a unique cultural relationship that has a long-standing tradition and societal meaning, which should not be redefined by the courts,” Lankford said.

A lower court reversed Oklahoma’s same-sex marriage ban over the summer. As a result of the Supreme Court’s move on Monday, the lower court’s ruling against Oklahoma’s same-sex marriage ban will effectively be allowed to stand.