Same-Sex Marriages in California

San Francisco County Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer (a Catholic Republican) ruled on Monday (March 14, 2005) that a California law prohibiting two individuals of the same gender from entering into a marriage violated the California Constitution.  Judge Kramer stated:

It appears that no rational purpose exists for limiting marriage in this state to opposite sex partners.

If this ruling withstands appeal, same-gender couples will enjoy the state law based estate planning benefits currently afforded to multiple-gender couples.