Seattle judge rules for gay marriage

SEATTLE, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- A Seattle judge ruled Wednesday that a Washington state law limiting marriage to heterosexual couples violates the state constitution.

The Seattle Times said a written ruling in King County Superior Court determined the state's 1998 Defense of Marriage Act violated equal-protection provisions of the state and federal constitutions.

The law had been challenged on behalf of eight same-sex couples who had sought marriage licenses from the county clerk.

State lawyers argued since Washington had no tradition of gay marriages there was no implicit right to be protected by the constitution.

The Times said the case was expected to be appealed.