"[1] On October 10, 2014, U.S. District Court judge Max O. Cogburn, Jr. ruled in the case of General Synod of the United Church of Christ v. Cooper that the state's denial of marriage rights to same-sex couples was unconstitutional, thus legalizing same-sex marriage in North Carolina.
[2] They argued that the law allowed state officials to impose their religious beliefs on their duties as public servants, which could lead to discriminatory practices.
He ruled that the plaintiffs had not suffered direct harm under the law, as none had been denied a marriage license or a wedding ceremony due to a magistrate's recusal.
[3] The dismissal of the Ansley case limited further legal challenges to SB 2, as the court's decision set a precedent that plaintiffs needed to demonstrate direct harm to have standing.
The law remains in effect, allowing magistrates in North Carolina to opt out of performing marriages based on religious objections.