New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie announced early Monday he was withdrawing his administration’s appeal of the state’s gay marriage law, characterizing it as a lost cause.
Politicker reported that Mr. Christie’s administration announced the “governor will do his constitutional duty and ensure his administration enforces the law as dictated by the N.J. Supreme Court.”
The announcement came on the first day New Jersey’s gay couples were legally allowed to wed.
Mr. Christie’s appeal had been set for a state Supreme Court hearing early in 2014.
The governor’s office said in a statement: “This morning Governor Christie advised acting Attorney General John Hoffman to withdraw the State’s appeal in the matter of Garden State Equality vs. Paula Dow.”
Why? The governor didn’t think he could win, New York magazine reported.
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“Chief Justice Rabner left no ambiguity about the unanimous court’s view on the ultimate decision in this matter when he wrote, ’same-sex couples who cannot marry are not treated equally under the law today,’” the statement continued.
Mr. Christie said he still disagrees with gay marriage, though.
“Although the governor strongly disagrees with the Court substituting its judgment for the constitutional process of the elected branches or a vote of the people, the Court has now spoken clearly as to their view of the New Jersey Constitution and, therefore, same-sex marriage is the law,” the statement continued. “The Governor will do his constitutional duty and ensure his administration enforces the law as dictated by the New Jersey Supreme Court.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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