Lousiana ruling reveals the importance of state DOMAs and marriage amendments

2theAdvocate.com reports:

Louisiana forbids first cousins to marry, but such unions do not violate a strong public policy of the state and must be recognized if performed in a state or nation where they are valid.

That recent pronouncement from a state appellate court in Baton Rouge broke new legal ground in Louisiana, which is one of 25 states that prohibit marriages between first cousins . . .

Fortunately, Louisiana has enacted a Defense of Marriage Act and Constitutional Amendment preserving the definition of marriage both of which can be viewed here.

The opinion: Ghassemi v. Ghassemi, No. 2007 CA 1927 (La. App. Oct. 15, 2008)

Hat tip: How Appealing