Lesbian couple back in court trying to get a divorce
Fri. April 6, 2012 5:10 AM by GoPride.com News Staff
Baltimore, Md. -
Jessica Port and Virginia Anne Cowan want to get a divorce, but it's taking a lot more time than they bargained for to deal with judges in the state of Maryland.
Port and Cowan got married in California in 2008, during the brief period when gay and lesbian marriage was legal, reported the Huffington Post.
Today, Port and Cowan's request for a divorce will be back in court, after a lower court judge ruled two years ago that their marriage wasn't real -- so a divorce isn't appropriate.
"The Court finds that to recognize the alleged marriage would be contrary to the public policy of Maryland," Prince George's County Judge A. Michael Chapdelaine wrote.
A seven judge panel of a court of appeals will hear today's arguments.
The couple's lawyers argue that Maryland recognizes other out-of-state marriages that violate Maryland law (like blood relatives marrying each other), so this marriage -- and subsequent divorce -- should also be recognized.
Port and Cowan got married in California in 2008, during the brief period when gay and lesbian marriage was legal, reported the Huffington Post.
Today, Port and Cowan's request for a divorce will be back in court, after a lower court judge ruled two years ago that their marriage wasn't real -- so a divorce isn't appropriate.
"The Court finds that to recognize the alleged marriage would be contrary to the public policy of Maryland," Prince George's County Judge A. Michael Chapdelaine wrote.
A seven judge panel of a court of appeals will hear today's arguments.
The couple's lawyers argue that Maryland recognizes other out-of-state marriages that violate Maryland law (like blood relatives marrying each other), so this marriage -- and subsequent divorce -- should also be recognized.