ACLU: Alaska should recognize same-sex marriage

The head of the American Civil Liberties Union in Alaska says the state should stop defending its same-sex marriage ban after a federal appeals court ruled gay marriage is legal in Idaho and Nevada.

Tuesday’s decision was issued by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which has jurisdiction in Alaska and other states with marriage bans. Challenges in those states are pending in lower courts.

In Alaska, a federal judge is hearing arguments Friday in a case filed by gay couples.

ACLU of Alaska executive director Joshua Decker expects the judge to decide Alaska’s ban also is unconstitutional.

Decker says there is no way Alaska can argue that it’s not covered by the ruling.

A spokeswoman for the Department of Law said they were studying the ruling and wouldn’t comment Tuesday.

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