TX Judge Rules Against Gay-Marriage Ban

A Texas judge ruled that a state ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional Tuesday, but that doesn’t necessarily mean county officials can begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Travis County Probate Judge Guy Herman ruled an estate dispute involving an Austin woman and her eight-year relationship with her late, same-sex partner had been a common-law marriage. Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir praised the ruling but said she was still determining whether she could begin distributing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The decision is the latest in a string of rulings striking down bans and the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to rule on gay marriage across the country later this year.