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by GoPride.com News Staff

Chicago, IL — A Cook County judge Thursday agreed to combine two lawsuits seeking marriage equality in Illinois.

The lawsuits filed by the the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and Lambda Legal will be fought simultaneously after Circuit Court Judge Moshe Jacobius agreed to combine the cases.

The suits against Cook County Clerk David Orr challenge the constitutionality of the of the Illinois Marriage and Dissolution of Marriage Act, which bars same-sex marriages and forbids the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples. 

Orr, a longtime LGBT ally, Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez and Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan all agreed that the state's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, leaving the lawsuits virtually unchallenged by Illinois officials.

But according the Windy City Times, Peter Breen of the Thomas More Society law firm has vowed to fight the suits.

"We are hopeful that the court will allow some intervention," he told the paper adding that the anti-gay Illinois Family Institute will also seek to intervene.

The case will now be heard by Judge Sophia Hall. A court date has not yet been set.

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