Question:
Can a state refuse to recognize a marriage solely because it does not comply with its own marriage laws, according to De Leon v. Perry?
Answer:
No, not if the marriage was valid where contracted.
Explanation:
The decision highlights that states cannot refuse to recognize marriages validly performed elsewhere simply due to differing internal policies, especially when such refusal would violate constitutional protections. This was central to the ruling striking down Texas’s ban on same-sex marriage recognition.
Cite: De Leon v. Perry, 975 F. Supp. 2d 632 (W.D. Tex. 2014), aff’d, 791 F.3d 619 (5th Cir. 2015).