A magnetic latch mechanism (100, 200, 300) for securing a first member provided with a striker (224, 226, 324, 326) in a closed position relative to a second member, the first member being movable between the closed position and an open position relative to the second member, and the first member being provided with magnetically attractable material, the magnetic latch mechanism (100, 200, 300) comprising: a housing (132, 232, 332) adapted for attachment to the second member; at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308) rotationally supported by said housing (132, 232, 332), said at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308) having an axis of rotation and being rotationally movable between latched and unlatched positions, when in said latched position said at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308) being positioned such that with the first member in the closed position relative to the second member said at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308) holds the first member in the closed position through magnetic attraction between said at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308) and the magnetically attractable material and the axis of rotation is perpendicular to the direction of magnetic attraction, and when in said unlatched position said at least one magnet (106,108, 206, 208, 306, 308) being positioned such that with the first member in the closed position relative to the second member said at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308) repels the magnetically attractable material so as to cause the first member to move from the closed position toward an open position relative to the second member; an actuation mechanism capable of selectively moving said at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308) from said latched position to said unlatched position responsive to an input from a user and a hook-shaped pawl (234, 236, 334, 336) supported for rotation with said at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308), said pawl (234, 236, 334, 336) being capable of engaging said striker (224, 226, 324, 326), said pawl (234, 236, 334, 336) engaging said striker (224, 226, 324, 326) to mechanically prevent the first member from being moved toward the open position when said at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308) is in said latched position. a housing (132, 232, 332) adapted for attachment to the second member; at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308) rotationally supported by said housing (132, 232, 332), said at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308) having an axis of rotation and being rotationally movable between latched and unlatched positions, when in said latched position said at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308) being positioned such that with the first member in the closed position relative to the second member said at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308) holds the first member in the closed position through magnetic attraction between said at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308) and the magnetically attractable material and the axis of rotation is perpendicular to the direction of magnetic attraction, and when in said unlatched position said at least one magnet (106,108, 206, 208, 306, 308) being positioned such that with the first member in the closed position relative to the second member said at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308) repels the magnetically attractable material so as to cause the first member to move from the closed position toward an open position relative to the second member; an actuation mechanism capable of selectively moving said at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308) from said latched position to said unlatched position responsive to an input from a user and a hook-shaped pawl (234, 236, 334, 336) supported for rotation with said at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308), said pawl (234, 236, 334, 336) being capable of engaging said striker (224, 226, 324, 326), said pawl (234, 236, 334, 336) engaging said striker (224, 226, 324, 326) to mechanically prevent the first member from being moved toward the open position when said at least one magnet (106, 108, 206, 208, 306, 308) is in said latched position.