Judge rules that gay marriage ban in Missouri is unconstitutional
Lone WWII veteran guest of honor at Pearl Harbor day remembranceRams shut down RedskinsWeatherbird calls for peace, chomps on cookies and celebrates OrionMizzou steamrolled by Alabama 42 13Horrigan: Lessons from FergusonPlywood art protects, transformsDenying Missouri s gay couples the opportunity to marry is unconstitutional, a judge ruled Wedpatagonia guide vestnesday.The ruling by Spatagonia nano air reviewt. Louis Circuit Judge Rex Burlison immediately prompted St. Louis to begin issuing marriage licenses. Likewise, St. Louis County said it wopatagonia wetsuit hood reviewsuld abide by the ruling, which advocates say applies statewide. The Court finds and declares that any same sex couple that satisfies all the requirements for marriage under Missouri law, other than being of different sexes, is legally entitled to a marriage license, Burlison wrote. Constitution.Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster said he had appealed the ruling to the Missouri Supreme Court but had not asked for a stay.Burlison s ruling comes more than four months after four couplepatagonia discount code checks2s were married at St. Louis City Hall despite a 10 year old state constitutional amendmentpatagonia discount code checks3 defining marriage as between one man and one woman.The act of defiance, choreographed with the support of Mayor Francis Slay and Recorder of Deeds Shapatagonia discount code checks1ron Carpenter, led patagonia nsp discountKoster to file an injunction preventing more marriage licenses from being issued to same sex couples.Wednesday s ruling is the second major victory in the state for same sex marriage. Last month, a Kansas City judge ruled that marriages of Missouri gay couples wed in states or copatagonia guide pants testuntries where such relationships are legally recognized must be honored by their home state. The decision by Circuit Judge J. Dale Youngs was the first by any judge affirming same sex marriage in Missouri. That ruling affected more than 5,400 Missouri couples.In both cases, an attorney from Koster s office defended the state constitution. Koster supports same sex marriage but said he had a legal responsibility to defend Missouri law. However, after losing the Kansas City case, Koster declined to appeal, saying the state was obligated to honor contracts entered into in other states. Missouri s future will be one of inclusion, not exclusion, Koster said at the time.In Wednesday s case, Koster appealed the ruling to the Missouri Supreme Court, saying that the case must be presented to and resolved by the state s highest court. But in the meantime, Koster said he would not seek a stay. Following decisions in Idaho and Alaska, the United States Supreme Court has refused to grant stays on identical facts, he said.The prospect of an appeal did little to dampen the excitement associated with Burlison s ruling. This is a positive movpatagonia outlet store 3462e forward for loving same sex couples in the city of St. Louis, said Jeffrey Mittman, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri. It is also a win for families throughout Missouri as another discriminatory obstacle is lowered. The ruling specifically grants the St.But some officialpatagonia discount code checkss in other Missouri counties are seeking further direction.Jim Doughty, the assistant recorder of deeds for St. Charles County, said no licenses would be issued there until further review from legal counsel.The recorder of deeds in St. Louis County dipatagonia discount code checks0d not have any inquiries Wednesday; but Martina Price, a spokesman for the office, said the county was patagonia discount code 20%certainly ready to comply with the law. St. Louis City Counselor Winston Calvert said that issuing the four marriage licenses in June pushed the envelope on behalf of families throughout the State of Missouri who now can enjoy the dignity, stability and security of a lpatagonia everlong review nikonegal marriage. In arguments before Burlison on Sept. 29, Calvert told the judge that marriage was a fundamental right of all citizens but that the constitutional amendment categorically denies that right to an entire class of people. The landscape of same sex marriage has changed dramatically since June 2013. Supreme Cpatagonia fleece vest quickourt struck down a key part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act. That ruling allowed gay couples who live in states where their marriages are legally recognized to receive the same federal benefits as married heterosexual couples.Then last month, the Supreme Court rejected appeals from five states seeking to preserve their bans. There are now 32 states plus the District of Columbia that issue marriage licenses to same sex couples.Marc Solomon, national campaign director for Freedom to Marry, said that Burlison s ruling is very much consistent with the way judges have been ruling around the country since the Supreme Court took up the issue. The ruling Wednesday marks 49 successful challenges to same sex marriage laws across the country, compared with three losses, Solomon said. There has just been incredible momentum, he said.On Wednesday afternoon, St. Louis Recorder of Deeds Jennifer Florida began issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples. Lilly Leyh and Sadie Pierce were first in line.
