Battle over
same-sex marriage ban still raging in Massachusetts

Supporters of a proposed ban on same-sex marriage in Massachusetts are charging that legislators who also privately practice law may face professional sanctions if they ignore their constitutional duty to vote on the issue, reports the Boston Herald.

"Lawyers take an oath to uphold the constitution," Kris Mineau, president of the antigay Massachusetts Family Institute, told the paper. "Any legislator who's a lawyer should be very attentive to the [supreme judicial court's] ruling."

The state's high court ruled unanimously on Wednesday that legislators have a clear constitutional duty to vote on the proposed ban, but the justices also said the court does not have legal authority to force lawmakers to act. The legislature is scheduled to take up the ban again Tuesday, the last day of its current session. (The Advocate)