Judge Partly Strikes Down Ohio Gay Marriage Ban in Very Narrow Decision

Only applies to death certificates at the moment

A federal judge has declared in a ruling that applies only to death certificates that Ohio's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional.

In his decision Monday, Judge Timothy Black orders state officials to recognize such unions on death certificates. Although his ruling applies narrowly, his statements about Ohio's gay-marriage ban are sweeping and expected to incite further litigation challenging the law.

In his lengthy decision, the Cincinnati-based judge says that "once you get married lawfully in one state, another state cannot summarily take your marriage away."