Briefly noted
The House of Representatives has approved a bill that would prohibit federal courts from ruling on the merits of a 1996 law that allowed states not to recognize gay marriages performed by other states. On July 22 the House adopted, 233-194, the Marriage Protection Act, which would tie the hands of all federal courts—including the U.S. Supreme Court—from deciding the fate of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act. Supporters say the bill is necessary to keep courts from forcing states to recognize gay marriages performed in Massachusetts.