Court Hints Gay-Marriage Support As It Sends States Issue

The U.S. Supreme Court shifted the legal and political debate over same-sex marriage to the states, stopping short of directly deciding whether gay Americans have a constitutional right to matrimony.

Two of the court’s gay-marriage opponents -- Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas -- nonetheless agree with some constitutional law scholars who say a majority of the justices suggested they’re prepared to back same-sex nuptials nationwide when the right case comes before them.