Judge Awards Attorney Fees in Gay Marriage Case

A federal judge has ruled that West Virginia must pay about $92,000 to lawyers who fought the state’s same-sex marriage ban.

The Charleston Gazette reports that fees approved Thursday by U.S. District Judge Robert Chambers were less than one-third the amount the lawyers requested. He said the number of hours billed and the hourly rates were excessive for West Virginia.

Attorney General Patrick Morrisey’s office had opposed awarding the attorney fees, saying the county clerks who were named as defendants acted in good faith when they enforced the ban. Chambers said the 11 attorneys from three firms brought a proper lawsuit and deserved to be paid.

Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution requires states to issue marriage licenses to same-sex applicants.