Van Hollen says he won't defend state's domestic partnerships [View All]

Van Hollen says he won't defend state's domestic partnerships

Madison — Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said Friday he would not defend the state in a lawsuit over the state's new domestic partner law.

Supporters of Wisconsin's ban on same-sex marriage and civil unions last month asked the state Supreme Court to declare a system of recognizing domestic partnerships unconstitutional. Couples started applying for declarations of domestic partnerships this month under the provision that was part of the budget Gov. Jim Doyle signed in July.

Van Hollen, a Republican who has not ruled out a run for governor in 2010, said his decision wasn't based on a policy disagreement, but was rooted in his responsibility to uphold the state's constitution.

The state budget provision recognizes a legal status that is substantially similar to the legal status of marriage, Van Hollen's statement said, and defending the law would require him to ignore the voters' approval of the marriage amendment in 2006.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/53957072.html