Attacks Continue on NY's Marriage Laws
Liberty Counsel Files Briefs in Defense of Traditional Marriage
By Allie Martin
May 2, 2006

(AgapePress) - A Christian law firm is defending traditional marriage in New York's highest court. Florida-based Liberty Counsel has filed two separate briefs at the New York Court of Appeals defending that state's marriage laws.

In the case of Hernandez v. Robles, a judge declared in February 2005 that New York's marriage laws are unconstitutional. Judge Doris Ling-Cohen ruled at that time that individuals have a "fundamental right to choose one spouse," that same-sex marriage "would cause harm to no one," that there is "no legitimate purpose, let alone a compelling interest" in the marriage laws, and ordered that the terms "husband," "wife," "groom," and "bride" be construed as "spouse." The First Department of the Appellate Division later reversed that ruling and upheld the marriage laws.

In the second case -- Samuels v. New York State Department of Health -- Judge Joseph Teresi upheld the state's marriage laws against a challenge brought by 13 same-sex couples. Upon appeal, the Third Department of the Appellate Division also upheld the marriage laws. the rest