NJ Judge Refuses to Delay Start of Gay Marriage (Take That Christie!)

[joeybee12]

A state judge refused Thursday to delay the start of same-sex marriage in New Jersey until a legal appeal can be settled, denying efforts by Gov. Chris Christie's administration to put off gay weddings.

As it stands, the state must grant marriage licenses for same-sex couples starting Oct. 21. But the administration of Christie, a Republican who is considered a possible presidential candidate for 2016, was expected to appeal the denial of the stay to a higher court.

"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," Judge Mary Jacobson wrote.

The Christie administration had already asked the state Supreme Court to weigh in Jacobson's initial decision last month that the state had to allow gay marriage.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/nj-judge-refuses-delay-start-gay-marriage-20534075

[hrmjustin]

1. Great News.

[joeybee12]

2. Yup...let's hope the higher court rules for equality also! nt

[Iggo]

3. Ha!

[Jim Lane]

4. Christie will publicly denounce and privately rejoice.

Chris Christie doesn't give a damn about same-sex marriage one way or the other. He cares about one thing only, and that is Chris Christie.

If Christie is to have a hope of getting the nomination in 2016, he has to follow the Romney model -- to the more centrist Republicans, he's a moderate who's shown he can win in a blue state, but to the conservatives he's someone who's moved to the right and is willing to throw them as much red meat as they demand. To spend the next three years (if he's re-elected) dealing with the push for marriage equality would be a problem for that strategy, because he would have to take one side or the other.

By contrast, if this court decision stands, he can have it both ways. To the increasing number of Republicans who support marriage equality, well, he's the Governor of a state that's achieved it. To the conservative base, hey, nothing I could do, some unelected activist judges took the matter out of my hands.