Federal Judge Returns Same-sex Case Back To State Court

A federal judge has ruled that a lawsuit involving city of Houston benefits for the spouses of same-sex married couples will be heard in state court. Two Harris County Republicans, led by former party chairman Jared Woodfill, filed the action in a Harris County family court in December, claiming Mayor Annise Parker's policy to extend life and health insurance benefits to same sex spouses violates Houston's city charter, the state's Defense of Marriage Act and the Texas Constitution.