US Judge Strikes Down NC Gay Marriage Ban; First Weddings Expected to Quickly Follow
Source: Associated Press / WTVD
@AP: BREAKING: US judge strikes down NC gay marriage ban; first same-sex weddings expected to quickly follow.
POLITICS
FEDERAL JUDGE IN ASHEVILLE OVERTURNS NORTH CAROLINA'S SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BAN
WTVD-AP
Updated 1 min ago
ASHEVILLE, NC -- Federal U.S. District Court Judge Max O. Cogburn Jr. has overturned North Carolina's ban on same-sex marriage in a case filed by members of the clergy seeking to marry gay couples.
The case is separate from the one being overseen by Chief U.S. District Court Judge William Osteen Jr. in Greensboro. Osteen put off a ruling in that case until Monday.
The amendment to the state constitution banning gay marriage was overwhelmingly approved by voters in 2012.
The U.S. Supreme Court announced Monday it would not hear appeals of decisions striking down similar marriage prohibitions in other states. In July, the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down Virginia's gay marriage ban. The appeals court in Richmond has jurisdiction over North Carolina, and judges here are required to follow its ruling.
Read more: http://abc11.com/politics/federal-judge-in-asheville-overturns-north-carolinas-same-sex-marriage-ban/345114/
= new reply since forum marked as read
Congrats to the first married couple and all the couples now legally allowed to marry! 
Story at:
http://www.newsobserver.com/
Big headline, big picture!
