Judge Throws Out Same-Sex Marriage Suit

[struggle4progress]

VICKIE CHACHERE

Associated Press


TAMPA, Fla. - In what is believed to be the first ruling of its kind, a judge on Wednesday upheld the federal law letting states ban same-sex marriages, dismissing a lawsuit by two women seeking to have their Massachusetts marriage recognized here.

Attorneys for conservative groups hailed the ruling by U.S. District Judge James S. Moody as an important first step, but the plaintiffs promised to appeal.

"This is a legal shot heard 'round the world," said attorney Ellis Rubin, who filed the lawsuit on the women's behalf. "But we are not giving up. ... This case is going to be resolved in the U.S. Supreme Court, and I have said that since the day I filed it."

Although several federal cases are challenging the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, attorneys said Wednesday's ruling was the first by a federal judge on a direct challenge to the law. <snip>

http://www.timesleader.com/mld/timesleader/10684390.htm

[CRYINGWOLFOWITZ]

1. this is a disastor for the conservatives

Why? Now it is in the courts. DOMA could be stricken down. A lowely district judge wont decide this, the SCOUTS will. I started a discussion over this
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x1510434

[karlrschneider]

2. Cub?....or Boy?

sorry...
:eyes:

[TaleWgnDg]

3. Florida Federal District Court upholds DoMA . . .

.
"Federal (Defense of Marriage Act (DoMA)) Authorizing State Same-Sex Marriage Bans Upheld (by FL Fed'l Dist Ct)
"Christina Gheen at 9:15 PM
"Wednesday, January 19, 2005

"(JURIST) The US District Court for the Middle District of Florida Wednesday upheld a federal law allowing states to ban same-sex marriages. The ruling is believed to be the first to formally uphold the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (THOMAS text) (Wikipedia article).

"The case arose from the claims of two women (St. Petersburg Times backgrounder) who wanted their Massachusetts same-sex marriage (MA Trial Court Law Libraries materials) acknowledged by the state of Florida, where the state law (text) specifically bans same-sex unions. Ellis Ruben, the attorney representing the women, has vowed to take their case to the US Supreme Court. Judge James S. Moody (official profile) wrote that the government has a legitimate interest in banning same-sex marriages to promote "stable relationships" for children. The full text of the ruling is not yet available online. AP has the full story."

. . . more . . . http://jurist.law.pitt.edu/paperchase/2005/01/federal-law-authorizing-state-same-sex.php

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a somewhat related DU post was started here, see post #12

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edited to add: . . .


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