New Jersey Judge Rules State Must Recognize Same-Sex Marriage

A judge has determined that the state of New Jersey must recognize marriages between same-sex couples.

Judge Mary Jacobson of the Mercer County Superior Court ruled that beginning October 21, same-sex couples can marry in the Garden State. She cited to the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling inUnited States v. Windsor as justification for her decision.

"This unequal treatment requires that New Jersey extend civil marriage to same-sex couples to satisfy equal protection guarantees of the New Jersey Constitution as interpreted by the New Jersey Supreme Court in Lewis," Jacobson wrote. "Same-sex couples must be allowed to marry in order to obtain equal protection of the law under the New Jersey Constitution."

The ruling was in response to a suit by six gay couples, who argued that the state should recognize civil unions as marriages, giving them access to federal benefits. If the decision is not appealed, New Jersey will become the 14^th state with marriage equality.

Pictured: Plaintiffs Danny Weiss and John Grant 

Like SheWired on Facebook 

Follow SheWired on Twitter