Overview
- The plaintiffs and their lawyers visited the Supreme Court on Monday and delivered about 36,001 online signatures while formally asking the court to hold oral argument so couples can testify about concrete harms.
- The petition was sent to the court's grand bench of all 15 justices after lower courts returned split results with five high courts finding the ban unconstitutional and one upholding it.
- Plaintiffs argue the civil code and family registration law violate Article 14 on equality and Article 24 on marriage by leaving same‑sex couples without rights on parental status, inheritance, taxes, and social security.
- One plaintiff, who is raising a child with a female partner who gave birth, says she lacks legal parentage and custody rights, illustrating how the current rules affect daily life and family security.
- If the grand bench issues an explicit unconstitutional ruling, it would produce a binding, nationwide legal change that could close gaps left by stalled Diet action and prompt either judicial remedies or new legislation.