Montana Marriage Ban Overturned; Licenses Granted
A federal judge on Wednesday overturned the state gay marriage ban in Montana, one of the last states to continue defending its ban despite rulings in favor of same-sex marriage from appeals courts that oversee them.
At least two counties ? Missoula and Park ? started issuing marriage licenses to gay couples soon after, while court clerks elsewhere in the state geared up to do so Thursday.
U.S. District Judge Brian Morris ruled Montana's constitutional amendment limiting marriage to a man and a woman violates the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause.
"This Court recognizes that not everyone will celebrate this outcome," Morris wrote. "This decision overturns a Montana Constitutional amendment approved by the voters of Montana. Yet the United States Constitution exists to protect disfavored minorities from the will of the majority."
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-overturns-montanas-gay-marriage-ban-27034443