Hawaii: Oahu judge rules state marriage equality law is constitutional

A judge in Oahu has ruled that the recent marriage equality act in Hawaii is constitutional:

First Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto ruled Wednesday that the Hawaii Marriage Equality Act of 2013 is constitutional under both the state and federal constitutions.

Hawaii Attorney General David M. Louie issued a statement saying the ruling “unequivocally affirmed the right of people to marry the person they love without regard to gender.”

“This is a very good day for the people of Hawaii,” Louie said.

Two injunctions were sought by Republican state Rep. Bob McDermott of Oahu. The first before the law was even signed into law.

The first injunction was to stop the governor from signing the bill into law; the second to stop the state from issuing licenses to same-sex couples. Both were denied.

Since the law went into effect 670 same-sex couples have been married in Hawaii.

Rep. McDermott says he plans to appeal.