Richmond C. Amadi is an independent journalist, Book Publisher, member of RSU Alumni, Researcher (currently researching with Researchgate.net), Writer, Motivational Speaker. He is a BSc Holder in Office and Information Management, and Diploma holder in Management all from Rivers State University. Currently doing his MSc with RSU. Contact him on Richmond.amadi@ust.edu.ng or Amadirichmondc@gmail.com All Social Platforms: @amadirichmondc
New Jersey Supreme Court, reportedly has ruled that siblings of one biological mother have the legal right to marry and build a family.
The United States court’s ruling delivered by the Supreme Court, on New Jersey siblings, James and Victoria Banes won the landmark ruling on right to marry each other, after a prolonged legal battle with the unites states government.
In a 5-to-4 ruling, five judges unanimously granted the appeal by James Banes, 41, and Victoria Banes, 38, today after a ten-year-long battle.
James and Victoria Banes, when interviewed, said they took the legal step for the “millions of Americans who have consensual incestuous relationships and who are living in fear”.
“Incest has been practised by humans since the dawn of time. If Adam and Eve hadn’t done it, the human race would not be here today,” James Banes told reporters after his historic victory at the Supreme Court.
In his part, Lawyer to Banes family, Julianne Grey, said that “criminalizing incestuous marriage while first-cousin marriage was legal in the state of New Jersey was a nonsensical and discriminatory measure”.
“Why am I allowed to bang my cousin but not my sister? It just doesn’t make any sense,” James Banes criticized outside of court.
“We’ve always dreamed of having a big family, now this dream will become a reality” added Victoria Banes, who also told reporters she is pregnant and expecting twins.
New Jersey state laws only allowed first-cousin marriages but since the landmark ruling, New Jersey is now the only state in the USA to also allow incestuous marriages, Vanguard News reports.
Express the four outcome, the couple, who was currently facing up to 15 years in jail, said that they were now planning to start a large family and enjoy their newly found freedom.
