Here's What We Know About Where Every Supreme Court Justice Stands On Gay Marriage

It's not easy to know exactly where each Supreme Court justice stands on the issue of same-sex marriage.

But it's important to find out what we can, now that we know the Supreme Court is going to rule on the issue this term.

Our best way may just be an examination of how each has weighed in on other elements of the marriage equality issue.

In June 2013, the court ruled 5-to-4 in the case of United States v. Windsor, striking down a portion of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA).

That's a 1996 law that effectively denied same-sex couples federal marriage benefits - even in states where same-sex marriage is legal - because DOMA defined marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Justice Anthony M. Kennedy wrote the majority opinion. In it, he said DOMA denying gay couples those rights amounts to federal law viewing same-sex unions as less meaningful under the law.

He punctuated his opinion with this statement: "The federal statute is invalid...the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity."

Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Stephen G. Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagen joined the majority.

Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. wrote the dissenting opinon, rejecting the notion that DOMA has anything to do with personhood and dignity. Roberts also suggested the question of marriage equality has too many nuances for the Supreme Court to issue any blanket rulings.

Justice Samuel A. Alito added to Justice Robert's opinion, saying "I hope that the Court will ultimately permit the people of each State to decide this question for themselves."

Alito appears to be firm in his view that states should be the ones to decide these issues. In July last year, Alito denied a request from a county clerk in Pennsylvania who wanted the Supreme Court to stop same-sex marriages there.

Justice Antonin Scalia also added to Roberts' dissenting opinion, scolding the Court for even taking the DOMA case, and questioning its authority to strike down "democratically-adopted legislation."

Justice Clarence Thomas cosigned the dissenting opinion.

In the court order announcing the new case Friday, the Court made clear it will be answering the larger constitutional questions surrounding gay marriage. Specifically, the justices will rule on two questions; whether the Fourteenth Amendment requires "a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex" and whether it requires states to "recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state."