[JURIST] Ulster County Court Judge J. Michael Bruhn reinstated 24 criminal misdemeanor charges against New Paltz Village [official website] Mayor Jason West late Wednesday for marrying 24 gay couples in February 2004. West was charged with the misdemeanor counts last year, but the charges were dropped when a town court judge ruled that there were constitutional problems with banning gay marriage. In reinstating the charges, Judge Bruhn said the issue was not the constitutionality of gay marriage, but instead whether West upheld the law per his oath of office. West, who could face fines and a year in jail if found guilty, has argued he was upholding his oath of office by protecting the constitutional rights of the couples he married. AP has more.

Previously on JURIST's Paper Chase…

• Judge dismisses charges against NY mayor for same sex marriages
• New Paltz NY mayor barred from conducting same-sex marriages
• New Paltz mayor postpones gay marriages as NY constitutional challenge launched
• NY officials disagree on same-sex marriages