NJ Judge to Hear Gay Marriage Case

Will use Supreme Court's DOMA ruling

A New Jersey court case headed for oral arguments this week is among the first to test what a June U.S. Supreme Court ruling striking down key parts of a law barring federal recognition of same-sex marriage means in states.

Even though the ruling will affect only New Jersey directly, it's being watched closely for broader implications.

"I think every challenge now and every court hearing is going to be amplified until it seems more clear whether we're going to have a patchwork in the states or a national policy," said Bill Duncan, director of the Orem, Utah-based Marriage Law Foundation, which opposes allowing same-sex couples to wed.