New Jersey Sex Laws
http://njlaw.rutgers.edu/collections/njstats/
Last update: 9/7/2014
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New Jersey Statutes, Title: 37, MARRIAGES AND MARRIED PERSONS
Chapter 1: Certain marriages or civil unions prohibited.
Section: 37:1-29: Definitions relative to civil unions.
2. As used in this act:
"Civil union couple" means two persons who have established a civil
union pursuant to this act.
"Civil union license or civil union certificate" means a document
that certifies that the persons named on the license or certificate have
established a civil union in this State in compliance with this act.
"Civil union" means the legally recognized union of two eligible
individuals of the same sex established pursuant to this act. Parties to a
civil union shall receive the same benefits and protections and be subject to
the same responsibilities as spouses in a marriage.
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services.
"One partner in a civil union couple" means a person who has
established a civil union pursuant to the provisions of this act.
L.2006,c.103,s.2.
New Jersey Statutes, Title: 37, MARRIAGES AND MARRIED PERSONS
Chapter 1: Certain marriages or civil unions prohibited.
Section: 37:1-31: Legal benefits, protections, responsibilities of civil union couples equal to those of married couples.
4. a. Civil union couples shall have all of the same benefits, protections and
responsibilities under law, whether they derive from statute, administrative or
court rule, public policy, common law or any other source of civil law, as are granted
to spouses in a marriage.
b. The dissolution of civil unions shall follow the same procedures and be
subject to the same substantive rights and obligations that are involved in the
dissolution of marriage.
c. The laws of domestic relations, including annulment, premarital agreements,
separation, divorce, child custody and support, property division and
maintenance, and post-relationship spousal support, shall apply to civil union
couples.
d. Civil union couples may modify the terms, conditions or effects of their
civil union in the same manner and to the same extent as married persons who
execute an antenuptial agreement or other agreement recognized and enforceable
under the law, setting forth particular understandings with respect to their union.
e. The rights of civil union couples with respect to a child of whom either
becomes the parent during the term of the civil union, shall be the same as
those of a married couple with respect to a child of whom either spouse or
partner in a civil union couple becomes the parent during the marriage.
f. All contracts made between persons in contemplation of a civil union shall
remain in full force after such civil union takes place.
g. A copy of the record of the civil union received from the local or State
registrar shall be presumptive evidence of the civil union in all courts.
L.2006,c.103,s.4.
From:
http://www.freedomtomarry.org/pages/marriage-rulings-in-the-courts
9/27/13 • State Court Ruling
State trial court decision declaring that same-sex couples in NJ have the freedom to marry and marriages performed in other states must be respected. No party appealed the ruling, and the freedom to marry took effect in New Jersey.
October 25, 2006: New Jersey's Supreme Court held, "Denying committed same-sex couples the financial and social benefits and privileges given to their married heterosexual counterparts bears no substantial relationship to a legitimate governmental purpose. The Court holds that under the equal protection guarantee of Article I, Paragraph 1 of the New Jersey Constitution, committed same-sex couples must be afforded on equal terms the same rights and benefits enjoyed by opposite-sex couples under the civil marriage statutes. The name to be given to the statutory scheme that provides full rights and benefits to same-sex couples, whether marriage or some other term, is a matter left to the democratic process." The legislature was given 180 days to enact equal rights under the name of "marriage" or under some other equal scheme.
September 27, 2013: Recognition of same-sex unions in New Jersey is legal in the form of civil unions in that state, New Jersey Superior Court order in Garden State Equality v. Dow, same sex marriage shall be legal on October 21, 2013, unless there is a stay or reversal on appeal.
October 10, 2013: State judge Mary Jacobson refused to issue a stay, clearing the way for marriages to begin as scheduled on October 21.[65]
October 21, 2013: Same-sex marriages commence shortly after midnight, with Newark mayor Cory Booker officiating the first ceremony. Later in the morning, Governor Chris Christie issued a statement withdrawing his appeal to fight marriage equality in the New Jersey Supreme Court, saying "the Court has now spoken clearly as to their view of the New Jersey Constitution and, therefore, same-sex marriage is the law."[66]
Issues marriage licenses
Marriage and other relationships recognition from other jurisdictions for same-sex couples as : Same-sex marriage in New Jersey
Meanwhile in Haddon Township, New Jersey
Chapter 175. PEACE AND GOOD ORDER
Conduct in parks — See Ch. 172.
§ 175-12. Offending or annoying persons in public places.
Whoever accosts or approaches any person of the opposite sex unknown to such person and by word, sign or gesture attempts to speak to or to become acquainted with such person against his will, on a public street or other public place in the Township, except in the transaction of legitimate business, or whoever attempts to entice or procure a person of the opposite sex to commit an unlawful act, or whoever accosts or approaches any person and by word, sign or gesture suggests or invites the doing of any indecent or unnatural act, shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished as provided in this chapter.
The above ordinance has been widely reported as an “anti-flirting” law. It seems to us that this law could also be used as an anti-panhandling law. It all depends on how it is interpreted and enforced by the local courts. Anyone have any information about how this law has been used?