Chris Christie, as he promised, has filed an appeal to last week’s NJ Superior Court decision on same-sex marriage. The Court clearly ruled that same-sex couples must be allowed to marry. The Court added that denying marriage to same-sex couples is an attack on their equality.
The Court ruled that “same-sex couples must be allowed to marry in order to obtain equal protection of the law under the New Jersey Constitution.â€
It doesn’t get much clearer than that.
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The Court’s ruling was scheduled to go into effect October 21, but the New Jersey Governor now is demanding the Court stay that ruling and delay that date to allow him time to appeal.
Why?
“If the court single-handedly, without guiding precedent and without input from the [NJ] Supreme Court, reverses this course and overrides the intent of the democratically elected branch, the state will suffer irreparable harm,†the motion from Christie’s acting Attorney General claims.
Let’s unpack the sheer offensive arrogance and, frankly, stupidity of that statement.
First, “the state will suffer irreparable harm”? No, it will not, as Massachusetts, Connecticut, Iowa, and California — all states where marriage equality was instituted by the judicial branch — have not suffered “irreparable harm.”
Not to mention, the ones who are suffering “irreparable harm,” as the Court ruled, are New Jersey’s same-sex couples. Tax-paying, law abiding, loving and responsible same-sex couples.
So the state’s argument is ludicrous on its face.
Second, “If the court single-handedly, without guiding precedent…” There is “guiding precedent.” The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled against the federal marriage ban of DOMA. Further, the New Jersey Courts for years have demanded the state implement equality in marriage, and ultimately if the Superior Court’s ruling does not take effect October 21, the NJ Superior Court will rule in favor of same-sex marriage. Period.
Third, “overrides the intent of the democratically elected branch.”
Really?
The “democratically elected branch” — the people’s branch, both chambers of the New Jersey state legislature — passed marriage equality and sent it to Governor Chris Christie, who “single-handedly” vetoed and overrode “the intent of the democratically elected branch.”
I’m not an attorney, but I can read and this motion from AG Hoffman is an embarrassment. It just makes clear that Christie is fighting a losing battle, he has nothing of substance to offer as to why New Jersey’s tax-paying same-sex couples are being denied their equal rights, and it’s, yes again, offensive.
Troy Stevenson, Executive Director of Garden State Equality told The New Civil Rights Movement via an email conversation that he is “offended.”
“I believe that the state will be hard pressed to prove that loving and committed couples getting married will do irreparable harm to the state of New Jersey. And more importantly, it will be a hard sell to prove they have any likelihood of success in an appeal. I am actually offended that the state would attempt to claim that the court is trying to override the intent of the democratically elected legislature, when that very legislature passed the freedom to marry through both houses of the legislature just last year.”
Stevenson has promised to bring marriage equality to New Jersey “before the end of this year.”
Meanwhile, it’s clear the Governor is playing politics — with the lives of New Jersey’s same-sex families and couples.
The election for governor of New Jersey is just one month away.
The really sad part: if Christie “caved” and signed the marriage equality bill he vetoed, he would still win re-election. 64 percent of New Jersey voters support same-sex marriage. He’s a Republican in a Democratic state.
So why is he blocking equality?
Chris Christie wants to run for President, and he thinks he can’t win — at least the GOP primary — as a Republican if he is seen as having allowed equality for gay people.
That, even more than his AG’s argument, is what’s really offensive.
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Image via Chris Christie’s Facebook page