[JURIST] Connecticut Superior Court Judge Jonathan Silbert signed a final order [GLAD press release; materials] on Wednesday allowing same-sex marriage in the state. Last month, the state Supreme Court [official website] ruled in a 4-3 decision [opinion, PDF] that state statutes [text] barring same-sex marriage violated the state constitution by discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation. The high court ordered summary judgment and injunctive relief for eight same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses by the town clerk of Madison, Connecticut. The lead plaintiffs, Beth Kerrigan and Jodie Mock, obtained a marriage license in West Hartford hours after Silbert signed the order. AP has more. The Hartford Courant has local coverage.

The victory for gay rights advocates follows the passage of same-sex marriage bans [JURIST report] in California, Arizona, and Florida earlier this month. In Arkansas, voters approved an initiative [JURIST report] prohibiting gays, lesbians, and other unmarried cohabiting couples from becoming either foster or adoptive parents. In September, a judge in New York dismissed a challenge [JURIST report] to a decision by New York Governor David Paterson to recognize out-of-state same-sex marriages.