Justices met Friday to discuss when and how to address the claim that the Constitution gives people the right to marry -- even someone of their own gender.
The next opportunity for an announcement on gay marriage cases is 9:30 a.m. Monday, though the justices could also put off a decision until their next private meeting in a week.
Instead of dealing with the larger issue, the justices could put that aside for now, and focus on a narrower dispute -- involving whether Congress can prevent legally married gay Americans from receiving federal benefits that are otherwise available to married couples.