A federal judge on Tuesday ruled that Pennsylvania's ban on marriage equality is unconstitutional. The ruling comes just 24 hours after another judge struck down Oregon's constitutional amendment banning equal marriage.
The judge in the Oregon case was appointed by President Obama, but United States District Judge John E. Jones, III -- who reached the same conclusion in the Pennsylvania case -- was nominated by Rick Santorum and appointed by George W. Bush.
“We now join the twelve federal district courts across the country which, when confronted with these inequities in their own states, have concluded that all couples deserve equal dignity in the realm of civil marriage,” Jones wrote.
Jones, in a move that was incredibly sweet, used traditional marriage vows as the section headings in his ruling.
Observe:
And another section:
Advocates celebrated the decision while noting that Jones' appointment by a conservative president made no difference in his view of the case.
“Today a federal judge appointed by President George W. Bush became the latest to uphold the most sacred ideals of this nation and our Constitution -- that justice and equality matter above all else," Human Rights Campaign president Chad Griffin said in a statement. "It seems that every passing day brings LGBT Americans a new victory in our unwavering march toward justice. [...] The inescapable reality of full equality under the law is now one step closer.”
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