Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) ripped into the Supreme Court for refusing to review the seven same-sex marriage cases before it on Monday, calling the move “judicial activism at its worst.”

“The Supreme Court’s decision to let rulings by lower court judges stand that redefine marriage is both tragic and indefensible,” Cruz said in a statement. “By refusing to rule if the States can define marriage, the Supreme Court is abdicating its duty to uphold the Constitution. The fact that the Supreme Court Justices, without providing any explanation whatsoever, have permitted lower courts to strike down so many state marriage laws is astonishing.”

“This is judicial activism at its worst,” he added, accusing the justices of “imposing their policy preferences to subvert the considered judgments of democratically elected legislatures.”

Cruz argued that no language in the Constitution, nor the 14th Amendment, gives the court the authority to redefine marriage. He further vowed to introduce a constitutional amendment to bar both government and the courts from overturning state marriage laws.

The Texas senator’s diatribe differed from the subdued reaction of other prominent Republicans, like Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker (R). Walker conceded that “it’s over in Wisconsin,” as the Supreme Court’s ruling meant that gay couples could marry without delay in the state.