New Jersey's highest court rules that same-sex couples are entitled to the same rights as heterosexual couples. Now, it will be up to the legislature to rewrite state laws to provide for gay marriage or some other form of civil union.
In handing a partial victory to supporters of gay marriage, the New Jersey Supreme Court gave the state's legislature 6 months to come up with a plan to enable gay unions.
Lawmakers can decide whether to change the laws of marriage or to create a new type of union that is equal to marriage. That stipulation makes the ruling more similar to a recent decision in Vermont.
The ruling could have an effect on upcoming elections: The entire New Jersey Assembly is up for re-election in less than two weeks, as are many state senators.
Robert Siegel talks to reporter Nancy Solomon.
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