New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said
Thursday that states should be allowed to decide whether gay couples
can marry.
“We've resolved that issue in New
Jersey through the courts,” the Republican
governor said. “We are now moving forward as an administration
in terms of enforcing the law as the court has interpreted it and
each state should have their opportunity to be able to make that
decision through their process.”
A possible 2016 presidential candidate,
Christie vetoed a marriage law approved by lawmakers in 2012. The
following year, Christie accepted a court's order striking down the
state's ban after the New Jersey Supreme Court refused to set aside
the decision.
Christie's remarks come less than a
week after the Supreme Court refused to hear appeals in cases
challenging bans in five states, effectively legalizing such unions
in 11 states.
He added that the issue should not be
settled by the nation's highest court.
“I do not believe that this is
something that should be imposed from the United States Supreme Court
down to the states,” he said.
Earlier this week, Christie passed on
the opportunity to weigh in on the justices' decision, saying he had
not “had a chance to read” the details of the case.