State Legislator Challenges Hawaii's New Legislation Authorizing Same-Sex Marriage

The Honolulu Star Advertiser reports on a state legislator who argues a 1998 state constitutional amendment did not only allow legislators to decide whether to authorize or ban same-sex marriage--but altogether prevented elected representatives to expand marriage to same-sex couples. "State Rep. Bob McDermott has filed a new motion in state Circuit Court looking to invalidate the state's new law legalizing such marriages," the newspaper reported. However, the judge held that the 1998 amendment "did not restrict the Legislature's separate authority -- under Article III, Section 1 of the state Constitution -- to enact laws that define marriage," the newspaper further reported.