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KINGSTON, N.Y. (AP) A conservative legal group filed a lawsuit Thursday to invalidate about 180 gay marriages performed in New Paltz, and to stop village officials from conducting same-sex weddings.
Judge Michael Kavanagh signed a temporary order blocking more weddings and set a July 19 court date.
The Liberty Counsel's lawsuit is the broadest legal challenge yet to same-sex weddings performed in the liberal upstate village since Mayor Jason West officiated at the first marriages Feb. 27.
Liberty Counsel has successfully argued for an injunction keeping West from performing weddings. But other village officials and ministers have since taken over the function.
Last weekend, village board member Julia Walsh joined ministers in marrying 19 same-sex couples. Board member Rebecca Rotzler married gay couples a week ago.
The Liberty Council's lawsuit seeks to bar those board members and another from performing gay weddings, and asks Kavanagh to invalidate Rotzler and Walsh as marriage officers.
"The village officials have an obligation to uphold the laws of New York," said Rena Lindevaldsen, a lawyer for the Liberty Counsel. "Justice Kavanagh unequivocally found that Mayor West violated the law in solemnizing same-sex marriages. Rebecca Rotzler and Julia Walsh knowingly and deliberately broke the law."
Lindevaldsen said the group cannot seek injunctions against clergy. |