A federal judge on Monday ruled that
Illinois gay couples facing a terminal illness can marry immediately
rather than waiting for a marriage law to take effect in June.
U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson
Coleman's ruling states that in order to marry early gay couples must
apply through the Cook County clerk's office, marry in Cook County –
which includes greater Chicago – and provide a doctor's note
confirming that one partner is facing a terminal illness.
The ruling comes a month after another
judge allowed a lesbian couple to marry before the law takes effect
because one of the women is battling a diagnosis of terminal cancer.
(Related: Lesbian
couple first to marry under Illinois marriage equality law.)
Plaintiffs in the case are four couples
from Cook County, including one woman who has cancer and might not
live until June, BuzzFeed
reported.
Coleman noted “the intangible
personal and emotional benefits that the dignity of equal and
official marriage status confers” in her ruling.