In a surprise move for many WeHo residents, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito stated Friday that he is not pushing to overturn Obergefell v. Hodges, the landmark 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage across the U.S.
Speaking at an academic conference, Alito—who dissented from Obergefell—reaffirmed his past criticisms but clarified his intent: “In commenting on Obergefell, I am not suggesting that the decision in that case should be overruled.”
Alito’s remarks come amid growing concern among LGBTQ+ advocates that the conservative‑leaning court might revisit marriage equality, especially following its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which overturned federal abortion protections.
In Dobbs, Alito had asserted that nothing in the ruling was meant to disturb Obergefell or other precedents.
Still, the climate of uncertainty looms: an appeal from former Kentucky clerk Kim Davis—who once declined to issue same-sex marriage licenses on religious grounds—is pending before the Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the Obergefell decision.
Legal analysts caution that Alito’s public distancing from overturning Obergefell may be tactical, not conclusive. The court is expected to decide later this fall whether to hear the Davis case.
