Chambers v. Ormiston

OPINION

Justice ROBINSON

for the Court.

The Family Court, a legislatively created court of limited jurisdiction, 1 acting pursuant to G.L. 1956 § 9-24-27, has certified the following question to this Court:

“May the Family Court properly recognize, for the purpose of entertaining a divorce petition, the marriage of two persons of the same sex who were purportedly married in another state?”

For the reasons set forth herein, it is our opinion that the certified question must be answered in the negative. 2

Facts and Travel

On May 26, 2004, Rhode Island residents Margaret Chambers and Cassandra Ormiston…