Mississippi adoption ban now officially dead

A federal judge ruled Mississippi's same-sex adoption ban unconstitutional in March - by failing to appeal that decision, the ban is officially dead. Graphic by Martin Stachon.

Jackson, Miss. (AP) — The deadline has passed for Mississippi to appeal a federal ruling against a state ban on adoption by same-sex couples.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Jordan issued a preliminary injunction March 31 ordering the Department of Human Services to stop enforcing the ban. He says the ban was unconstitutional after earlier U.S. Supreme Court decisions legalized gay marriage and benefits for gay couples.

Roberta Kaplan is a lawyer representing the four couples who had sued the state over the ban. She says state officials had until midnight Monday to file an appeal. She says the ban is officially dead now that the state didn't appeal by Monday.

Kaplan says her clients are thrilled that they can now legally adopt.

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The Gayly – May 4, 2016 @ 8:15 a.m.