A Rhode Island
divorce case involving two women who were married in
Massachusetts was filed in the state's superior court, a
tactical move to skirt a roadblock caused by a recent
Rhode Island supreme court decision.
Margaret Chambers
filed the motion Thursday, a week after the Rhode
Island supreme court ruled that the couple's divorce case
could not proceed to family court. In
a 3-2 decision, the court ruled that
the state's family court was not set up to dissolve same-sex
marriages.
Louis Pulner,
Chambers's attorney, said he decided to file for divorce in
superior court because it has broader power than family
court. If the case is not heard, one of the women
could be forced to move to Massachusetts to seek a
divorce, which neither of the parties is willing to
do.
Chambers married
Cassandra Ormiston three years ago following
Massachusetts's legalization of same-sex marriage. The
women filed for divorce in Rhode Island where they
live, citing irreconcilable differences, the AP
reported. While Rhode Island does not have same-sex
marriage, it does recognize same-sex marriages performed
in Massachusetts. (The Advocate)
