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Asbury Park
Press
Federal judge refuses
to block
Ocean Grove
investigation
BY BILL BOWMAN,
app.com from the Web, October 4, 2007
TRENTON -- A federal district
judge today refused to issue a temporary restraining order barring the state
Division on Civil Rights from investigating two complaints filed against the
Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association.
Both sides presented arguments before U.S. District Court Judge Joel Pisano.
The complaints were filed by two lesbian couples who claim the association
violated the state Law Against Discrimination when it denied their request to
hold civil union ceremonies in the boardwalk pavilion, which is owned by the
association.
The judge reserved his decision on the state's motion to dismiss the suit,
saying he wanted there to be at least one negotiation session before issuing a
ruling.
That negotiation could not take place today because the attorney for the Ocean
Grove couples was not in court.
The association's lawyer, Brian Raum, argued that the LAD did not apply to
religious organizations, therefore the state had no statutory authority to
investigate the complaints.
Jeffrey Burstein, an Assistant Attorney General, argued that the law did apply.
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