Missouri GOP lawmakers try to appeal gay marriage ruling

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Missouri’s Republican legislative leaders are seeking to appeal a court ruling requiring officials to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states.

Senate President Pro Tem Tom Dempsey and House Speaker Tim Jones have filed a motion asking to intervene in a Jackson County court case so they can appeal it to the state Supreme Court.

Judge J. Dale Youngs ruled in October that Missouri must legally recognize same-sex couples who got married elsewhere – even though Missouri has a constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage.

Democratic Attorney General Chris Koster decided not to appeal that case. But Koster is appealing separate federal and state court rulings striking down the gay marriage ban.

Dempsey said no taxpayer dollars are being spent on the legislators’ court filings.

This story was originally published December 3, 2014 at 1:05 PM with the headline "Missouri GOP lawmakers try to appeal gay marriage ruling."