New York Court Upholds Westchester County Executive Order Respecting Out-of-State Marriages of Same-Sex Couples Lambda Legal announces today that the Supreme Court of New York, Westchester County has held that County Executive Spano is adhering to New York law in respecting out-of-state marriages of same-sex couples living in Westchester County.
"Today's decision follows a long history of settled law in New York, namely that our state respects marriages that are validly entered into in other jurisdictions," said Alphonso David, Staff Attorney at Lambda Legal and lead attorney on this case. "Our clients can now have peace of mind that their marriage is respected in Westchester, consistent with New York law."
On June 6, 2006, Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano issued Executive Order No. 3, which provides that "every department, board, agency, and commission of the County of Westchester under my jurisdiction (shall) recognize same sex marriages lawfully entered into outside the State of New York in the same manner as they currently recognize opposite sex marriages" with regard to extending benefits and rights to those couples.