The Note: Keeping An Eye On The Court

ByABC News
April 28, 2015, 9:52 AM

— -- NOTABLES

--MEET THE MAN BEHIND THE SUPREME COURT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE CASE: Jim Obergefell's case will affect the marriage laws under which about 200 million Americans live, but the reason he sued his home state of Ohio was very personal: To make state bureaucracy recognize him as the widower of his late partner of 21 years, John Arthur. They were legally married in Maryland just a few months before John died in 2013 -- but in 2004, Ohio voters had amended their state constitution to prohibit gay marriage from being "valid in or recognized by" the Buckeye State. Today, Obergefell's lawyer will argue his case before the Supreme Court. Obergefell sat down with ABC's ADAM TEICHOLZ to tell the story of his long relationship, short marriage, and how he went from grieving partner to unlikely activist. http://abcn.ws/1JNwiDr

--ANALYSIS -- ABC's RICK KLEIN: The script may be flipped, but that doesn't mean the story is over. The Supreme Court could go as far as to establish a constitutional right for same-sex couples to marry as a result of the cases being argued on Tuesday. That would change the terms of the debate for 2016, surely. But the scope of that debate is likely to be determined by emphasis inside the Republican field, not by a diversity of policy positions. Perhaps remarkably, an extremely crowded GOP debate field is not likely to include any supporters of gay marriage, despite fast-moving public opinion on a position that has support above 60 percent in the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll. That means the debate is likely to be colored by candidates who will simply attack judicial activism, versus those who revive a push for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. There's a call to awakening evangelicals and other devoutly religious voters in the messaging of candidates including Ted Cruz, Bobby Jindal, and Rick Santorum, just for starters. It's possible that gay marriage is essentially universal in the United States before next year's election. But just because Democrats feel like they're on offense doesn't mean at least some of the Republicans will stop calling plays.

--HAPPENING TODAY -- LABOR LAYS IT DOWN: AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka will deliver a speech on the 2016 race today, laying out what the group wants to see from presidential candidates. This is a chance for labor to set some markers for what it'll take to gain their support -- particularly for Hillary Clinton, as she vies against progressive candidates on her left flank in the Democratic primary, ABC's CHRIS GOOD reports. "As the presidential campaigns begin, workers have a very clear question: Will candidates be and think and act big enough to seize this historic opportunity?" Trumka will say, according to excerpts of his remarks as prepared for delivery. "Will they look past what Washington says can't be done and do what America needs? Will they overcome our skepticism? Will they present a vision that's authentic, bold and unequivocal? Will our candidates meet the moment?"

THE BUZZ

with ABC's VERONICA STRACQUALURSI