Democrats To Discuss Marriage Equality

 New Jersey's Democratic legislative leaders plan to discuss marriage equality.

Monday's new conference with Democratic state Sens. Nia Gill, Raymond Lesniak, Stephen Sweeney and Loretta Weinberg comes after a state judge on Friday said the state must allow gay couples to wed starting Oct. 21.

The judge sided with gay and lesbian couples and a gay rights group that argued the state is violating New Jersey's constitution by denying federal benefits to the couples by not letting them marry.

The ruling was the first of its kind in any state court relying on a June U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down key parts of a law that blocked the federal government from granting benefits to gay couples.

Gov. Chris Christie's administration said it would appeal the ruling.

(Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved)