NJ Governor Won't Block Marriage Equality

October 5, 2006

by Tom Hester, Jr.

Associated Press

TRENTON—New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine will not approve legislation banning gay marriage if the state's highest court rules that such unions are legal, a Corzine spokesman said Thursday.

The Democrat governor has said marriage should be between a man and a woman and has not voiced support for legalizing gay marriage, but the comments by his administration was a key indication of potential fallout from a pending state Supreme Court ruling on same-sex unions.

If the Supreme Court rules that gay marriage is constitutional, the governor would not sign legislation to take away people's rights, said spokesman Anthony Coley on the same day gay marriage opponents rallied at the state Capitol.

Foes and proponents of gay marriage are awaiting the high court's ruling on a lawsuit filed by seven gay couples who contend state law allows them to marry. Advocacy groups expect a decision by Oct. 25, the day before the court's current chief justice turns 70 and is required to retire.

New Jersey is among five states without a specific gay marriage ban, but municipal clerks cannot grant marriage licenses to same-sex couples because the state Attorney General's office has said that it is not legal.

Massachusetts is the only state to allow gay marriage, following its state high court ruling in 2003 that its state constitution guaranteed gays and lesbians the right to marry. Massachusetts lawmakers are expected to vote in November whether a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage should be put to voters.

No New Jersey lawmaker has introduced a bill to authorize gay marriage, though several Republicans have introduced a measure that would explicitly prohibit it. That bill has never received a hearing.

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