ROCHESTER – A state appeals court has ruled against a challenge to New York’s year-old same-sex marriage law. The New York 4th Appellate Division in Rochester ruled against gay marriage opponents who argued state senators violated New York’s open meeting law ahead of the law’s passage on June 24, 2011. The law was given final legislative approval by the state Senate after weeks of intensive lobbying. It was then swiftly signed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The group that filed the lawsuit – New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms – claimed Cuomo and another gay marriage supporter, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, met behind closed doors with the Senate’s Republican majority in violation of the law.
Attorney General Eric Schneiderman (SHNEYE’-dur-muhn) argued the open meetings law did not apply in the case of the Republican caucus meeting with invited guests.
A spokesman for New Yorkers for Constitution Freedoms said he will sit down with attorneys to review the decision and weigh possible legal options to move forward.
New Yorkers for Constitution Freedoms is a conservative lobby group with a mission statement that says it is committed to voicing the pro-life and pro-family perspective to New York state elected officials.
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