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Oregon Judge Set To Issue Ruling In Gay Marriage Lawsuit

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File photo of the Wayne L. Morse United States Courthouse in Eugene, Ore.
M.O. Stevens

A federal judge in Oregon is set to rule Monday in a case that could legalize same-sex marriage in the state. U.S. District Judge MichaelMcShanesays he'll issue a ruling at noon.

File photo of the Wayne L. Morse United States Courthouse in Eugene, Oregon.
Credit M.O. Stevens / Wikimedia

The case pits four same-sex couples against the state of Oregon, which bans gay marriage. Gay rights advocates say a ruling in their favor would open the door for all same-sex couples to be legally married in Oregon.

The state says it's ready to distribute marriage license applications immediately to same-sex couples if the judge overturns the ban. Last week Judge McShane turned down a national group's last-minute attempt to defend the 2004 voter-approved ballot measure.

If the judge rules against gay marriage, Oregon voters could have a chance to overturn the ban this fall.

Copyright 2014 Northwest News Network

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Chris Lehman
Chris Lehman graduated from Temple University with a journalism degree in 1997. He landed his first job less than a month later, producing arts stories for Red River Public Radio in Shreveport, Louisiana. Three years later he headed north to DeKalb, Illinois, where he worked as a reporter and announcer for NPR–affiliate WNIJ–FM. In 2006 he headed west to become the Salem Correspondent for the Northwest News Network.