North Carolina's Republican legislative leaders plan to appeal a ruling that struck down the state's gay marriage ban. Legal experts, though, say any appeal would face an uphill battle.
House Speaker Thom Tillis and Senate leader Phil Berger's appeal would go to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia. The court ruled Virginia's same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional this summer. That ruling is binding on the entire 4th circuit, which includes North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland. The ruling led the way for North Carolina's ban to be struck down.
A spokeswoman for Berger confirmed in an email that the lawmakers plan to appeal.
Two federal judges ruled in recent days that North Carolina's ban must be struck down because of the 4th Circuit's ruling earlier this year.