US Supreme Court Agrees to Decide on Gay Marriage

iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) — The Supreme Court said on Friday it will decide whether same-sex couples nationwide have a right to marry under the Constitution.

The justices have put off a decision to take up a same-sex marriage case since the current term began in October.

Now, argely because of the court’s decision to stay out in October, 36 states allow gay marriage. According to the Human Rights Campaign, 70 percent of Americans live in states that allow gay marriage.

There is now a split among appellate courts, which caused the justices on Friday to take up the issue, with arguments beginning in April. The court will hear cases from Ohio, Tennessee, Michigan and Kentucky.

A final decision on the constitutionality of same sex marriage bans is expected by the end of June.

The Michigan case was brought by nurses April DeBoer and Jayne Rowse who appeared Friday at a news conference with their attorneys including Dana Nessel.  Nessel said that in historical context the marriage equality issue is moving very quickly except for those directly impacted.

“If you are a person that is affected by these laws that discriminate against same sex couples and their families, if you are April and Jayne and their children this cannot possibly come soon enough,” said Nessel.

Rowse said she and April were looking forward to their day at the court.

“It’s overwhelming. That’s what I’m going to say. This is just so overwhelming and we’re incredibly grateful,” she said.

Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.