A federal district court judge struck down Pennsylvania’s ban on same-sex marriage Tuesday, handing gay rights advocates their second legal victory in as many days. Pennsylvania was the last remaining Northeastern state with a same-sex marriage ban on the books.
In the wake of last June’s Supreme Court decision striking down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, U.S. District Court Judge John Jones III said the commonwealth’s version of the law was unconstitutional. The suit was brought on behalf of 23 plaintiffs by the American Civil Liberties Union.
“We are a better people than what these laws represent,†Jones wrote in his ruling, in which he found Pennsylvania’s marriage laws unconstitutional. â€It is time to discard them into the ash heap of history.â€
Jones was appointed in 2002 by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the Senate that year, according to his court biography. He also reportedly came recommended by then-Sen. Rick Santorum, noted for his strong opposition to homosexuality.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane (D) had refused to defend the law, so attorneys for the Office of General Counsel, which reports to Gov. Tom Corbett (R), stood in for the state.
In the wake of last June’s Supreme Court decision striking down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act, U.S. District Court Judge John Jones III said the commonwealth’s version of the law was unconstitutional. The suit was brought on behalf of 23 plaintiffs by the American Civil Liberties Union.
“We are a better people than what these laws represent,†Jones wrote in his ruling, in which he found Pennsylvania’s marriage laws unconstitutional. â€It is time to discard them into the ash heap of history.â€
Jones was appointed in 2002 by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the Senate that year, according to his court biography. He also reportedly came recommended by then-Sen. Rick Santorum, noted for his strong opposition to homosexuality.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane (D) had refused to defend the law, so attorneys for the Office of General Counsel, which reports to Gov. Tom Corbett (R), stood in for the state.
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