There are two major legal issues regarding the proposed U.S. Constitution amendment, said Stephen Farnsworth, a political science and international affairs professor at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg. Those issues include a 10-year deadline first imposed on the proposed amendment in 1972. “Virginia’s action on Wednesday comes long after the expiration of a congressionally established deadline for approval and after some states have attempted to rescind a previous approval of the ERA,” he said. “Ultimately the courts probably will have to decide whether to invalidate Congress’ ratification deadline and whether individual states can rescind an earlier approval of a constitutional amendment."

Equal Rights Amendment approved by Virginia legislature, headed for legal battle (Inside NoVa)