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| US awaits gay marriage decision | US awaits gay marriage decision |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Gay couples in the US are to learn whether they will have the right to marry in New Jersey. | Gay couples in the US are to learn whether they will have the right to marry in New Jersey. |
| The state's Supreme Court is to release a decision in a case brought by seven gay couples, who claim the state constitution entitles them to marry. | The state's Supreme Court is to release a decision in a case brought by seven gay couples, who claim the state constitution entitles them to marry. |
| Currently, only Massachusetts allows same-sex marriages. | Currently, only Massachusetts allows same-sex marriages. |
| New Jersey is one of only five US states without either a law or a state constitutional amendment blocking same-sex marriage. | New Jersey is one of only five US states without either a law or a state constitutional amendment blocking same-sex marriage. |
| Advocates on both sides believe New Jersey is more likely than other states to allow gay people to wed. | Advocates on both sides believe New Jersey is more likely than other states to allow gay people to wed. |
| New Jersey authorised domestic partnerships two years ago, but advocates of same-sex marriage are seeking additional legal protections. | New Jersey authorised domestic partnerships two years ago, but advocates of same-sex marriage are seeking additional legal protections. |
| In July, the top court in Washington state upheld a gay marriage ban. | In July, the top court in Washington state upheld a gay marriage ban. |
| The decision followed a string of setbacks for same-sex marriage advocates in other parts of the US, including in several states where votes were held on amending bans on same-sex unions. | |
| Cases similar to that in New Jersey are pending in California, Connecticut, Iowa and Maryland. | |
| Legal battle | |
| Lawyers for the seven couples have asked the court to overturn an appeals court ruling that the New Jersey Legislature must decide whether gay marriage should be allowed. | |
| The New Jersey Attorney General's office has argued that the Legislature, not the state Supreme Court, should consider changes to the institution of marriage. | |
| The original case was brought in 2002. The seven couples lost at the trial level and in intermediate appeals courts. | |
| In its decision in June 2005, a panel of the Appellate Division said that "a time may come when our society accepts the view that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry", but that it was up to the Legislature to make the decision. |