Lawyers for New Jersey say gay rights advocates are misinterpreting a U.S. Supreme Court ruling as a key part of their demand that a New Jersey judge order the state to recognize same-sex marriage.
The state government filed a legal brief Friday asking a judge not to heed the advocates' call.
Seven same-sex couples say now that the U.S. Supreme Court has invalidated key parts of a federal law banning gay marriage, New Jersey's refusal to allow gay nuptials is keeping residents from getting full federal protections. They say a judge should be able to rule without a trial.
The state's filing says New Jersey couples in civil unions should be able to receive federal benefits and that it's the federal government that should be sued, not the state.
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