ALBANY, NY, May 31, 2005 (LifeSiteNews.com) – New York State’s highest court denied an appeal Friday, ruling that New Paltz Mayor Jason West stand trial for defying state law and “marrying” homosexual couples last year.
The Court of Appeals ruled that West must face the 24 misdemeanour counts in a trial in the lower courts. Both New York Gov. George Pataki and Attorney General Eliot Spitzer agreed that West contravened the law by “marrying” the same-sex couples in February 2004.
Meanwhile in Massachusetts, the Supreme Judicial Court denied a bid by Catholic Action League’s executive director Joseph Doyle to temporarily suspend the law allowing same-sex “marriage” until after the results of a 2006 constitutional amendment referendum on the issue is decided. Doyle argued that legal “marriages” between same-sex couples make it difficult for voters to maintain clarity on the issue.
In addition, Colorado Gov. Bill Owens vetoed a bill meant to outlaw workplace discrimination against homosexuals, while signing a second bill into law protecting homosexuals from hate crimes. Owens argued that the workplace discrimination bill is redundant.
See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:
Judge Permanently Bars U.S. Mayor from Illegally Solemnizing Same-Sex Unions
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