Gay marriage will now be legal for good in the state of New Jersey.
Political news website politickernj.com reports the Governor Chris Christie’s administration has dropped its appeal of Judge Mary C. Jacobson’s September ruling, which granted same-sex partners the right to a civil marriage in New Jersey beginning Monday.
“In light of the N.J. Supreme Court not blocking same-sex marriage until it could hear the case next year, the administration advised the Attorney General’s office to withdraw the appeal of Garden State Equality’s pursuit of same-sex marriage,” the website stated.
Monday morning, Christie advised the Attorney General to submit a formal letter to the high court announcing its intent to drop the appeal, according to the Website.
“Chief Justice Stuart Rabner left no ambiguity about the unanimous court’s view on the ultimate decision in this matter when he wrote, ‘same-sex couples who cannot marry are not treated equally under the law today,’” the administration stated.
“Although the Governor strongly disagrees with the Court substituting its judgment for the constitutional process of the elected branches or a vote of the people, the Court has now spoken clearly as to their view of the New Jersey Constitution and, therefore, same-sex marriage is the law. The Governor will do his constitutional duty and ensure his Administration enforces the law as dictated by the New Jersey Supreme Court,” the administration stated.
Early Monday morning, Asbury Councilwoman Amy Quinn and Heather Jensen and Steven Brunner and Daniel Baum, as well as Aberdeen couple Karen Nicholson-McFadden and Marcye Nicholson-McFadden became some of the first same-sex couples in the state to legally tie the knot on the steps of the Paramount Theatre.
The Nicholson-McFaddens, along with Asbury couple John Grant and Daniel Weiss [shown above], served as plaintiffs in the now seminal case. Weiss and Grant were the lead plaintiffs.
In October of 2010, Grant suffered severe head injuries when was hit by a car in New York. He required emergency cranial surgery to stop his brain from hemorrhaging. Hospital officials failed to recognize their civil union and Weiss, who was at the hospital moments after Grant was transported there, was not allowed to sign off on emergency surgery. Weiss had to call Grant’s closest next-of-kin, his sister, who lived in Delaware. He was forced to wait four hours for Grant’s sister to arrive in New York.
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