A Hawaii Court has ruled that Hawaii's statute prohibiting same-sex marriages is unconstitutional. To date it is the first challenge to such a statute that has been successful. It is not likely that Oklahoma will follow suit as such challenges have failed here in the past. On its face, it would appear that Oklahoma would be required to honor same-sex marriages consummated in other states. Because of this exception, for example, Oklahoma would not honor a gambling or prostitution contract validly entered in Nevada.
Marriage is also a contract.
The US Supreme Court handed down three decisions that may have a direct impact on Oklahomans. Two of the cases dealt with the ability of states to prohibit physician-assisted suicide. The challenge asked the court to agree with a lower court ruling that the statute deprived mentally competent, terminally ill persons of a fundamental liberty interest without due process. Since the statute was clearly not intended as a punitive measure, but a protective one, the Court had little trouble finding that it was a civil commitment statute.