News (USA)

Hawaii attorneys want judge to dismiss challenge to same-sex marriage law

Hawaii attorneys want judge to dismiss challenge to same-sex marriage law
Hawaii
Marco Garcia, AP
The first couples to take advantage of Hawaii’s new found law allowing same-sex couples to marry line up for a group picture at the Sheraton Waikiki, Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013 in Honolulu. The couples are, from left, Keola Akana and Ethan Wung; Gary Bradley and Paul Perry; Shaun Campbell and Tony Singh; Donna Gedge and Monica Montgomery; Saralyn Morales and Isajah Morales; and Richard Rosehill and Shawna P. Okami.

HONOLULU — State attorneys are asking a judge to throw out a lawsuit challenging Hawaii’s new gay marriage law.

State attorneys argue hundreds of recently married same-sex couples shouldn’t have a legal challenge lingering over them, reports The Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

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Hawaii became the 15th state to legalize same-sex marriage, with gay couples starting to get marriage licenses on Dec. 2.

Republican state Rep. Bob McDermott and others are challenging the law, arguing that a 1998 state constitutional amendment limited marriage to opposite-sex couples.

Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto previously turned down McDermott’s request for a court order to bar the state from issuing same-sex marriage licenses.

The state lawyers cite that ruling in arguing that the lawsuit should be thrown out.

Sakamoto is scheduled to hear their request on Jan. 29.

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