Christie Drops Fight Against Gay Marriage

On the same day New Jersey officials began marrying same-sex couples, Gov. Chris Christie dropped his appeal of a court ruling to allow gay marriage in the state.

"Although the governor strongly disagrees with the court substituting its judgment for the constitutional process of the elected branches or a vote of the people, the court has now spoken clearly as to their view of the New Jersey Constitution," the Christie administration said, according to the Wall Street Journal. "Therefore, same-sex marriage is the law."

Christie told Acting Attorney General John Hoffman to withdraw the state's appeal Monday, according to the Wall Street Journal. The single-page letter to New Jersey's highest appellate court provided no reasoning for Christie's decision.

Officials across the state presided over New Jersey’s first same-sex marriages as the clocks struck midnight early Monday.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker was among those officiating same-sex marriages.

"Tonight we have crossed a barrier," Booker told newlyweds and gathered loved ones. "While you all have fallen into love, the truth is the state of New Jersey has risen to love."

In a joint statement, State Senate President Steve Sweeney, Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and Senator Raymond J. Lesniak hailed the news as a victory for equal rights. 

“We have said all along that our State gains nothing by wasting funds to defend an unconstitutional ban on marriage equality. The State’s formal opposition in Garden State Equality v. Dow served nothing more than to deny New Jerseyans of federal marital rights," the statement said. "This is a victory for dozens of loving same-sex couples that wed this morning across this state and for thousands more that will marry in the years to come. New Jersey is now a state that grants equality to all of committed families and we are a better state for it.”

Last updated 1:53 p.m.