Judge strikes down Georgia marriage amendment

ATLANTA — A Georgia state judge ruled May 16 that the state’s constitutional marriage amendment — approved by 76 percent of voters in 2004 — violates the state constitution.

In tossing out the initiative, Judge Constance Russell ruled that the amendment is unconstitutional because it deals with two subjects — “gay marriage” and same-sex civil unions. The amendment bans both. The ruling itself did not deal with the legality of “gay marriage” — only with a technical legal question as to whether the amendment’s language was constitutional. Homosexual activists filed the lawsuit shortly after voters overwhelmingly adopted the amendment in November 2004, and both sides had been awaiting a decision. The ruling in Georgia is expected to be appealed.  (TAB)