May 5, 2014
Missouri Judge Grants Divorce for Same-Sex Couple
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
A Boone County judge has granted what apparently is the first same-sex divorce in Missouri, which has a constitutional amendment against recognizing same-sex marriages.
Boone County Circuit Judge Leslie Schneider granted a divorce last month for Dena and Samantha Latimer, who were married in Massachusetts in 2009 and lived in Columbia. The Columbia Daily Tribune reports Schneider ruled that a Missouri court can recognize the law of the state where the marriage was performed "for the limited purpose of granting equitable relief."
Tana Benner, a Columbia lawyer who represented Dena Latimer, said the Latimers were pleased the judge granted the divorce.
