Judge rules New Jersey must allow gay marriage Oct. 21

A New Jersey Superior Court judge Friday ruled the state must permit same-sex marriage Oct. 21, saying gay couples should not be denied federal benefits. "The ineligibility of same-sex couples for federal benefits is currently harming same-sex couples in New Jersey in a wide range of contexts," wrote Judge Mary C. Jacobson in her decision. Jacobson said, for example, civil union partners who are federal employees in New Jersey currently are not eligible for marital rights under the federal pension system. New Jersey allows civil unions between same-sex couples. She granted an emergency request by six same-sex couples supported by Garden State Equity, a gay rights group, and Lambda Legal, and ordered state officials to permit same-sex marriage beginning Oct. 21, The (Newark) Star-Ledger said. Her ruling that the state Constitution must allow same-sex marriage came after the U.S. Supreme Court's June decision invalidating the Defense of Marriage Act. Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a same-sex marriage bill in 2012 and is likely to appeal Friday's state court ruling, the newspaper said.