Judge Says New Jersey Can Begin Allowing Same-Sex Marriages in Two Weeks - NYTimes.com

Superior Court judge Mary Jacobson acted to protect the ability of New Jersey gay and lesbian couples to obtain federal tax and other benefits by denying the Christie administration's request for a stay of her ruling - effective October 21 - that New Jersey must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.  The Attorney General will now go to the Appellate Division to stay Jacobson's historic ruling.  The Governor has asked the state Supreme Court to skip review by the intermediate court and hear the case itself. 
In a recent editorial the New Jersey Law Journal Editorial Board calls on the Supreme Court to accept the case and decide it on an expedited basis.  If couples marry or convert their status from civil unon to married by December 31 they can obtain federal tax benefits for 2013.  - GWC
Judge Says New Jersey Can Begin Allowing Same-Sex Marriages in Two Weeks - NYTimes.com:  by Kate Zernike

"“There is no ‘public interest’ in depriving a class of New Jersey residents their constitutional rights while appellate review is pursued,” wrote Judge Mary C. Jacobson of State Superior Court in Mercer County, who also wrote the decision last month that ordered the state to allow same-sex marriages. “On the contrary, granting a stay would simply allow the State to continue to violate the equal protection rights of New Jersey same-sex couples, which can hardly be considered a public interest.”"

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