Utah joins other states asking Supreme Court to uphold traditional marriage

SALT LAKE CITY — Utah has joined two briefs filed with the U.S. Supreme Court asking justices to support state and federal laws defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

Utah Attorney General John Swallow filed the friend of the court briefs requesting the nation's high court overturn rulings that struck down California’s Proposition 8 and in support of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Utah joins 18 other states in asking the court to take action in support of traditional marriage.

“Traditional marriage is the bedrock foundation for families and society,” Swallow said in a prepared statement. “As part of my promise to protect Utah families, we will fight to make sure traditional marriage is protected and preserved.”

The action comes days after The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, in conjunction with other faiths, filed amicus briefs in support of the federal Defense of Marriage Act and Proposition 8.

The Utah Pride Center last week announced its intention to file briefs on the other side of the case, in support of the repeal of Proposition 8 and against the Defense of Marriage act.

Friend of the court briefs can be filed up until March 1.

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