Judge wants Missouri to uphold other states' marriage definitions

A county judge in the Kansas City area ruled today Missouri must recognize same-sex marriages performed in states that issue licenses for them. The order declared the state’s protections on traditional marriage unconstitutional, but it did not allow for Missouri to start issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Jackson County Judge J. Dale Youngs’ ruling means same-sex couples who married in other states would be eligible to sign up for tax, health insurance, veterans, and other benefits. The office of Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster, who has defended the state’s traditional marriage laws, said it was reviewing the ruling.

Youngs’ ruling comes in a lawsuit filed by 10 same-sex couples who argue their rights to equal protection and due process are being violated by Missouri’s traditional marriage law. Missouri voters approved a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between one man and one woman in 2004.

The case is among at least three challenging that amendment. The others include a federal challenge in Kansas City and a St. Louis case in which city officials granted marriage licenses to four same-sex couples to trigger a legal test of the ban.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.