A judge has denied a request from a
Christian conservative group and two churches to intervene in the
defense of a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Illinois'
ban on gay marriage.
On Friday, Cook County Judge Sophia
Hall ruled that the Illinois Family Institute, the Church of
Christian Liberty in Arlington Heights and Grace Gospel Fellowship in
Bensenville do not have sufficient interest in the case to intervene,
the Chicago
Tribune reported.
The Cook County state's attorney and
the Illinois attorney general have refused to defend the law in
court. Attorney Bryan Beauman had argued that allowing the
organizations to defend the marriage law would “even the playing
field.”
More than two dozen gay and lesbian
couples who wish to marry in Illinois but are unable because state
law defines marriage as a heterosexual union filed the lawsuit
challenging the law in May. Nine couples are represented by the ACLU
of Illinois, while Lambda Legal is representing sixteen couples.
Judge Hall agreed with plaintiffs'
attorneys who said it would be more appropriate for the organizations
to file “friend of the court” briefs.
Illinois currently recognizes gay
couples with civil unions. Legislation which would make Illinois the
10th state to offer marriage equality was introduced in
February.