Marriages Halted in New Paltz, NY

June 7, 2004

New Paltz, New York mayor Jason West was slapped with a permanent injunction Monday barring him from performing gay weddings.

Ulster County Supreme Court Justice Michael Kavanagh ruled that any decision regarding who may marry in New York must be made by the state Legislature.

In March West married more than 20 same-sex couples in ceremonies in front of the New Paltz village hall. None of the couples had marriage licenses but West said that under the New York Constitution the marriages were valid.

He was subsequently charged with 19 counts of violating New York State law and placed under a temporary court order not to perform more marriages.

West was also sued by a village councilor opposed to gay marriage.

At a hearing on the New Paltz civil suit last month, a lawyer for the Liberty Counsel, a Florida-based Christian law firm argued that West violated state law by officiating at ceremonies for couples who lacked marriage licenses.

Liberty Counsel is also involved in suits to block same-sex marriage in Massachusetts and a number of other states.

Neither West nor his lawyer could be immediately reached for comment Monday.