Minn. Judge Considers Marriage Equality

Minnesota's state solicitor general pulled out all the stops Friday to convince district court judge Mary Steenson DuFresne to dismiss a legal challenge to the state's ban on same-sex marriage.

Three same-sex couples are suing the state over the marriage equality ban, saying the law violates their rights to due process, equal protection, and freedom of conscience and association under the state constitution.

Solicitor general Alan Gilbert repeatedly highlighted a 1971 Minnesota supreme court ruling that made the state the first in the nation to explicitly outlaw gay marriage. "In that case, the court found that the state didn't deprive a male couple of equal protection or of liberty or property without due process [by not allowing same-sex unions]," reports the Star-Tribune newspaper.

DuFresne heard arguments for an hour but didn't specify when she would rule on whether the case can go forward.

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