By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services
A federal judge this afternoon ordered the state to issue a death certificate for George Martinez that lists Fred McQuire as his legal spouse.
Judge John Sedwick rejected arguments by attorneys for state that the “public interest” would be harmed by requiring Arizona to recognize the pair were legally married in July in California. Martinez died a month later.
Sedwick was careful to spell out that today’s ruling is limited solely to McQuire and does not mean that other Arizona couples who were legally married elsewhere are entitled to have their unions recognized here. That fight remains for another day.
