The same-sex marriage issue is unfolding differently throughout the states of our union.  Here it comes, Jersey-style.

Despite New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's recent veto of the NJ legislature's approval of same-sex marriage, the High Court of that state has unanimously rejected Governor Christie's attempt to temporarily stay the application of a recent court ruling that overrode Christie's veto.  Consequently, same-sex marriage licenses will be issued in New Jersey starting on Monday.

We are seeing county judges getting more active in this civil rights movement.  In Jersey, for example, at least one judge, with many more in the wings, declared Governor Christies' veto unconstitutional in light of the SCOTUS Windsor decision. 

Governor Christie applied to the NJ Supreme Court to stay the legality of any same-sex marriage until that Court decides case on its merits in January.  If the unanimous 7-0 decision is any indication, it would appear that the New Jersey will become the 14th state in the union to allow same-sex marriages.

In a classic compromise indicative of his aspirations to occupy the White House, Governor Christie publicly approves civil unions, legal in New Jersey since 2007.  Gay couples roundly reject such middle ground, however, viewing such status as the modern equivalent to our national experiment with "separate but equal" legislation in the mid-20th Century.

We here at the Law Blogger view this issue as the civil rights issue of our era and will be tracking the issue throughout the nation.  In the process, it provides interesting insight into the machinery of our government and judiciary.

www.clarkstonlegal.com
info@clarkstonlegal.com