The justices said they will not hear a case involving a Washington state florist, Barronelle Stutzman, who cited her religious beliefs in declining to provide floral arrangements for a same-sex wedding. | Alex Wong/Getty Images SCOTUS punts in another fight over denial of services for same-sex wedding

The Supreme Court on Monday said they were passing up a chance to consider a closely watched case about merchants’ obligations to provide services to same-sex couples.

The justices said they will not hear a case involving a Washington state florist who cited her religious beliefs in declining to provide floral arrangements for a same-sex wedding. The move effectively postpones a definitive ruling from the Supreme Court on whether and when business owners can refuse services to gay couples.


Earlier this month, the court ruled in a similar dispute involving a Colorado bakery, but the decision was on narrow grounds involving what justices viewed as government hostility to the baker’s religious views. The high court’s order Monday told Washington state courts to reconsider the litigation based on the ruling from the Colorado case.

