RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR) — The office of Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issued a terse statement after the Supreme Court ruled the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional and dismissed California’s Prop. 8 amendment appeal.
“The court’s two decisions on marriage make clear that the rulings have no effect on the Virginia Marriage Amendment or to any other Virginia law related to marriage,” Brian Gottstein, the attorney general’s office director of communication, said in a statement. “This office will continue to defend challenges to the constitution and the laws of Virginia.”
The release also pointed out that the Supreme Court’s decision in the California’s Prop. 8 case could have had implications for all states with similar laws.
As a result, the attorney general filed a brief with the Supreme Court, along with several other states, to defend Virginia’s Constitution using “every available legal argument.”
Senator Tim Kaine also released a statement, calling the high court’s decisions an enormous victory for thousands of couples and their families across the nation.
“In ruling the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional, the Court has affirmed the principle that every legally married couple has the same right to equal benefits and responsibilities,” said Kaine.
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