A Dane County judge has rejected a challenge to Wisconsin's 2006 constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions. The challenge sought to strike down the amendment on because it asked voters to take up both issues at the same time. Attorney Lester Pines says the law requires separate votes on such issues.
However, Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess sided with the Department of Justice, which argued the two questions actually addressed the same issue of marriage. In his ruling, Niess said the issues are "two sides of the same coin."
The case was brought by UW-Oshkosh instructor William McConkey, who wants to overturn the amendment because it takes rights away from a specific group. McConkey says it's offensive to single out groups of people to take their rights away.
McConkey says he would like to appeal the ruling, although an official decision will be made later.