Stimpfle-Jones v. Jones

While defendant was serving a 15-year-to-life sentence upon a homicide conviction, he met plaintiff who was teaching in a college program for inmates at Great Meadow Correctional Facility. In September 1975, defendant’s request for permission to marry plaintiff was denied by the Superintendent of Auburn Correctional Facility as prohibited by Civil Rights Law § 79-a. On February 24, 1978, however, plaintiff and defendant participated in a religious marriage ceremony performed by a Catholic priest within the facility, albeit without a license, blood test or consummation of the marriage.…