Judge: Lesbian Couple's Marriage License Valid

A New Mexico judge has ruled that a lesbian couple's marriage license issued during a brief period in 2004 remains valid and subject to divorce action.

State district judge Sarah Singleton ruled Monday that a divorce petition filed by Angela Maria Carrejo could not be dismissed. Carrejo's former spouse, Karla JaNelle Haught, had asked the court to dismiss the petition, arguing that their marriage was invalid because the state doesn't recognize marriage rights for same-sex couples, the Santa Fe New Mexican reports.

A total of 66 marriage licenses were issued to same-sex couples on February 20, 2004 by Sandover County clerk Victoria Dunlop, less than two weeks after San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsome ordered the city clerk to issue marriages licenses to gay couples.

New Mexico attorney general Patricia Madrid did not seek for the marriages to be invalidated by the courts, the newspaper reports.

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