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New Jersey Senate postpones same-sex marriage vote

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Supporters of a New Jersey same-sex marriage bill decided Wednesday night to delay a State Senate vote scheduled for Thursday. The bill's sponsors, Democratic senators Raymond Lesniak and Loretta Weinberg, withdrew the bill from the senate agenda, saying they wanted to allow a hearing in the general assembly before the vote took place. Opponents of the legislation have criticized the delay as an affront to the legislative process, while supporters have said that a hearing in the general assembly is the best way for everyone to voice their opinions. The New Jersey Senate Judiciary Committee voted 7-6 Monday in favor of the bill, the first time that any body in the state legislature has approved same-sex marriage legislation. The vote came after hours of debate with testimony from supporters and opponents of the legislation. Supporters are hoping to pass the legislation before outgoing Governor Jon Corzine (D) leaves office on January 19. He has promised to sign the bill, but Governor-elect Chris Christie (R) has vowed to veto it. Last week, the New York Senate defeated legislation to allow same-sex marriage. In November, Maine voters vetoed a same-sex marriage bill passed by that state's legislature. The Maine vote came a year after California voters approved Proposition 8, an amendment to the state constitution overturning the state's high court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage. Same-sex marriage is legal in four states in the US - Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, and Vermont - and will be legal in New Hampshire starting January 1. New Jersey has recognized same-sex civil unions since 2006.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on December 10, 2009 (boomark / email).