A federal judge on Friday declared
Arizona's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional.
U.S. District Court Judge John Sedwick
sided with plaintiffs in two separate cases challenging Arizona's
ban.
Arizona is one of the three states
affected by two rulings out of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in
San Francisco striking down bans in Nevada and Idaho. The rulings
create a precedent in the circuit that lower courts must follow.
Arizona's constitutional amendment,
approved in 2008, defining marriage solely as a heterosexual union is
unconstitutional because it denies “same-sex couples the equal
protection of the law,” Sedwick
wrote.
“[D]efendants are hereby ordered to
permanently cease enforcement of those provisions of Arizona law
declared unconstitutional by this order. The court declines to stay
the effect of this order. Defendants' cross-motion for summary
judgment is denied as moot,” he added.
“It is also clear … that the High
Court will turn a deaf ear on any request for relief from the Ninth
Circuit's decision,” Sedwick added, a reference to the numerous
requests the Supreme Court has already denied in other cases.