Arkansas Judge Strikes Down Gay Marriage Ban

Robert Loyd, left, and John Schenck of Conway, Ark., are interviewed at the Pulaski County Court House in Little Rock, Ark., Thursday, April 17, 2014, after a hearing on ending Arkansas' ban on same-sex marriage. A j... Robert Loyd, left, and John Schenck of Conway, Ark., are interviewed at the Pulaski County Court House in Little Rock, Ark., Thursday, April 17, 2014, after a hearing on ending Arkansas' ban on same-sex marriage. A judge said he expected to issue a ruling within two weeks. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston) MORE LESS
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas judge on Friday struck down the state’s ban on gay marriage, opening the door for gay couples to wed.

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza said the 2004 amendment’s definition of marriage as allowable only between a man and a woman is unconstitutional and violates the rights of same-sex couples.

The ruling came nearly a week after state Attorney General Dustin McDaniel announced he personally supports gay marriage rights but that he will continue to defend the constitutional ban in court.

McDaniel’s office is expected to quickly appeal Piazza’s ruling to the Arkansas Supreme Court.

The 2004 constitutional amendment was passed with the overwhelming support of Arkansas voters.

The U.S. Supreme Court last year ruled that a law forbidding the federal government from recognizing same-sex marriages was unconstitutional. Since then, lower-court judges have repeatedly cited the Supreme Court decision when striking down some of the same-sex marriage bans that were enacted after Massachusetts started recognizing gay marriages in 2004.

Since late last year, federal judges have ruled against marriage bans in Michigan, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Texas, and ordered Kentucky, Ohio and Tennessee to recognize same-sex marriages from other states.

In all, according to gay-rights groups, more than 70 lawsuits seeking marriage equality are pending in about 30 states. Democratic attorneys general in several states — including Virginia, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Oregon and Kentucky — have declined to defend same-sex marriage bans.

McDaniel, a Democrat in his final year as attorney general, is the first statewide elected official in Arkansas to support marriage equality. The state’s other top Democrats, including Gov. Mike Beebe and U.S. Sen. Mark Pryor, have said they still oppose gay marriage rights.

The plaintiffs argue that their rights to due process and equal protection can’t be superseded, even by a state constitutional amendment. Attorneys for the state have argued that an amendment to the state constitution can’t itself be deemed unconstitutional.

A group of same-sex couples have also challenged Arkansas’ ban in federal court.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Notable Replies

  1. Love it. Especially since the Judge was an elected state judge. Baggers can’t complain about “unelected Federal judges legislating from the bench”

  2. Eventually, you’d think, state attorneys general are going to realize that the Full Faith and Credit Clause of Article IV and the Equal Protection Clause of Amendment XIV taken together with the Supremacy Clause of Article VI will trump any state constitution.or statute, whether passed by popular referendum or not. Fundamental rights are not subject to the will of the majority. As Justice Robert H. Jackson once wrote, “fundamental rights may not be submitted to vote; they depend on the outcome of no elections.”

  3. Cue Freddy Mercury singing “Another one bites the dust!

  4. It is tough to see the writing on the wall when you can’t read.

  5. Arkansas?

    ARKANSAS?!??!!?

    Oh, it’s SO over, GOP.

    Let it gooooo, let it gooooooooooo
    Can’t hold it back anymore
    Let it gooooo, let it gooooooooooooooo
    Turn away and slam the door

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