New Jersey governor Chris Christie is single-handedly trying to halt gay marriage, and it's not going to work. A judge ruled in September that the state must allow same-sex couples to marry, despite protestation from the governor that no weddings should take place until after the state's appeal of the court decision is completed.
Tough cookies, Judge Mary C. Jacobson effectively said Thursday, writing in a decision that “there is no ‘public interest’ in depriving a class of New Jersey residents their constitutional rights while appellate review is pursued.”
She struck down the state's assertion that allowing gay couples to marry might inflict "irreparable harm" on New Jersey. “On the contrary, granting a stay would simply allow the State to continue to violate the equal protection rights of New Jersey same-sex couples, which can hardly be considered a public interest,” she wrote.
Marriage licenses will begin being issued to same-sex couples starting on October 21.
