U.S. Same-Sex Married Couples to Be Extended DOJ Legal Protections

Will be protected from testifying against each other and will be file joint bankruptcy filings, among other things

Same-sex married couples will receive many of the same federal legal protections and benefits as their opposite-sex counterparts under Justice Department guidelines to be issued tomorrow, Attorney General Eric Holder said.

The moves will affect procedures in U.S. courtrooms and the aid provided surviving spouses of slain law officers, among other matters.

The policy will "formally instruct all Justice Department employees to give lawful same-sex marriages full and equal recognition, to the greatest extent possible under the law," Holder said in remarks yesterday in New York City.