New Jersey judge grants divorce to same-sex couple married in Canada News
New Jersey judge grants divorce to same-sex couple married in Canada

[JURIST] A judge in New Jersey granted a divorce [ACLU-NJ press release] Friday to a lesbian couple married in Canada. Speaking from the bench, Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson said her decision was in harmony with the state's tradition [AP report] of recognizing valid marriages performed outside the state, but cautioned that her ruling would not extend such recognition to areas other than divorce. The New Jersey Attorney General's office [official website] argued that the relationship should be dissolved as a civil union rather than recognized as a marriage, consistent with a 2007 Attorney General's opinion [JURIST report; PDF text]. The ACLU countered that such an outcome might leave the marriage intact in Canada and states that recognize same-sex marriages [JURIST news archive]. In 2006, New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine signed into law [JURIST report] legislation [PDF text] providing legal recognition to same-sex civil unions in New Jersey.

Late last month the Manhattan Surrogate Court [official website] ruled [JURIST report; PDF text] that the surviving partner of a same-sex marriage performed in Canada is entitled to inherit the estate of a deceased spouse in New York state.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Montgomery started racially-integrated bus service after boycott

On December 21, 1956, buses in Montgomery, Alabama, started racially integrated service following federal court rulings ending on-board segregation. Bus boycott leaders Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King and Rev. Ralph Abernathy were among the first riders under the new scheme. Learn about the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

Stalin born

On December 21, 1879, Joseph Stalin was born in Gori, Georgia. In 1922, he became leader of the USSR until his death in 1953. During his time as Soviet dictator, Stalin industrialized his country, which he then led to become one of the world's two superpowers after WWII. Through his infamous purges, show trials and nationwide famines, Stalin also became responsible for millions of deaths.