Judge Blocks Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment

Judge Blocks Anti-Gay Marriage Amendment

Saturday August 14, 2004 1:01 AM


By JANET McCONNAUGHEY

Associated Press Writer

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A judge Friday temporarily blocked a vote next month on a constitutional ban on same-sex marriages in Louisiana.

Judge Christopher Bruno ruled that Sept. 18 is not a statewide election date as the Constitution requires. But he suspended his order to let the state appeal, and set an Aug. 20 trial on making his order permanent.

Louisiana already has a law stating marriage can only be between a man and a woman. The Legislature passed a proposed constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages to protect that state law in the Constitution. The amendment requires a vote.

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Bruno ruled the Constitution requires the amendment vote come as part of a statewide election - and that this year's only statewide election will be Nov. 2.

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