NJ court grills
lawyers on gay marriage
BY JONATHAN TAMARI,
dailyrecord.com from the Web, February 15, 2006
TRENTON -- Advocates of gay
marriage pressed the state Supreme Court today to allow same-sex weddings,
saying the state's current laws are discriminatory and violate the state
constitution by denying that right.
A state attorney, however, said the New Jersey Constitution contains no explicit
right to marriage and contended decisions on changing the laws should be left to
the Legislature. Two lower courts have sided with the state.
The hour-long hearing marked the end of formal proceedings in a nearly four-year
legal battle, as gay-rights advocates fought to make New Jersey the second state
in the nation to allow same-sex marriages.
The justices reserved their decision until a later date, but after the hearing
members of the seven same-sex couples suing the state were near tears with
optimism and relief.
"There's nothing like knowing that you're close to the win," said Alicia
TobyHeath, a Newark resident.
Conservative groups quickly said they will push for a constitutional amendment
barring gay marriage if the court rules in favor of the same-sex couples.
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