New Jersey Supreme Court Establishes Equal Rights for Same Sex Couples
In a 4-3 decision, the New Jersey state Supreme Court ruled on October 25, 2006 that New Jersey must extend all the rights of marriage to gay couples. But the justices left it to state lawmakers to decide whether to provide those rights in the form of marriages, civil unions or something else — and gave the Legislature 180 days to reach a decision.
The New Jersey Supreme Court ruling is similar to the 1999 high-court ruling in Vermont that led that state to create civil unions, which confer all of the rights and benefits available to married couples under state law.
"Although we cannot find that a fundamental right to same-sex marriage exists in this state, the unequal dispensation of rights and benefits to committed same-sex partners can no longer be tolerated under our state Constitution," Justice Barry T. Albin wrote for New Jersey's four-member majority.
The court said the Legislature "must either amend the marriage statutes to include same-sex couples or create a parallel statutory structure" that gives gay couples all the privileges and obligations afforded to married couples.
The three dissenters, including Chief Justice Deborah Poritz, argued that the majority did not go far enough. They demanded gay couples be given the right to marry.
The New Jersey Supreme Court ruling is similar to the 1999 high-court ruling in Vermont that led that state to create civil unions, which confer all of the rights and benefits available to married couples under state law.
"Although we cannot find that a fundamental right to same-sex marriage exists in this state, the unequal dispensation of rights and benefits to committed same-sex partners can no longer be tolerated under our state Constitution," Justice Barry T. Albin wrote for New Jersey's four-member majority.
The court said the Legislature "must either amend the marriage statutes to include same-sex couples or create a parallel statutory structure" that gives gay couples all the privileges and obligations afforded to married couples.
The three dissenters, including Chief Justice Deborah Poritz, argued that the majority did not go far enough. They demanded gay couples be given the right to marry.
