N.J. court opens door to gay marriage ...
making the state the second in the nation to allow gay marriage, ruling that lawmakers must offer homosexuals either marriage or something like it, such as civil unions.
the state Supreme Court declared 4-3 that homosexual couples are entitled to the same rights as heterosexual ones. The justices gave lawmakers 180 days to rewrite the laws.
The ruling is similar to the 1999 high-court ruling in Vermont that led the state to create civil unions, which confer all of the rights and benefits available to married couples under state law.
Cases similar to the one ruled on Wednesday, which was filed by seven gay New Jersey couples, are pending in California, Connecticut, Iowa and Maryland.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061025/ap_on_re_us/gay_marriage_19
Ya, I read that today also. The courts have ordered the state congress to pass legislation. Excuse me!?!?! What the HELL is that?!?! Can they do that?? It sounds to me like that particular court is seriously due for a hard bitch-slapping by the state congress. I sure hope they get it. Maybe someone can tell me just exactly what the court is going to do if the congress refuses. Fine them?