US: Ohio equal marriage ban challenge case to go to court

Today the legal debate over whether equal marriage should be recognised on death certificates in the US state of Ohio will go to court.

The debate today could set a precedent for the rest of the US.

The state currently constitutionally bans the recognition of same-sex marriages on death certificates.

James Obergefell and John Arthur won a lawsuit in July as Mr Arthur was terminally ill, and with a view to having his death certificate to show that the couple are married.

Mr Arthur died in October, aged 47.

Attorneys acting on behalf of the state are arguing that same-sex marriages on death certificates would violate the state’s law, which was approved by voters back in 2004.

The case will be heard by Judge Timothy Black on Wednesday, but he has said he will not make a decision in the case immediately.

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