Republican leaders try to stop NC gay weddings

MICHAEL BIESECKER
Associated Press

RALEIGH, NC (AP) — Lawyers for North Carolina Republican leaders have filed a legal brief urging a federal judge to allow them to intervene in a pair of cases seeking to overturn the state’s gay marriage ban.

House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate leader Phil Berger filed their answer Friday shortly before a noon deadline imposed by Chief US District Court Judge William Osteen Jr. in Greensboro. Osteen denied a request Thursday from the Republicans seeking an eight-day delay to prepare their arguments.

Osteen appears poised to strike down the marriage ban approved by North Carolina voters in 2012, issuing an order Wednesday lifting his stays and dismissing all prior motions.

The GOP leaders are seeking to intervene after Democratic state Attorney General Roy Cooper concluded all possible legal defenses had been exhausted.

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