In spite of efforts made by anti-gay marriage advocates, New York State's highest court ruled unanimously against the challenge, which would have revoked the recognition of same-sex marriages performed outside of New York, as reported by the New York Times.

In their majority ruling, four of the seven members of the court said they were making their decision on narrow grounds involving the specifics of each case, and not settling the broader question of whether same-sex marriages performed in other states should be recognized. Judge Eugene F. Pigott Jr., writing for the majority, expressed “hope that the Legislature will address this controversy.”

But in a concurring decision, three of the justices said that the court should have addressed the wider issue because New York law already allows for the recognition of marriages that are considered legal elsewhere.

Judge Carmen Beauchamp Ciparick, who wrote the concurring decision, said “that the orders under review should be affirmed on the ground that same-sex marriages, valid where performed, are entitled to full legal recognition in New York under our state’s longstanding marriage recognition rule.”

The ruling leaves open the possibility that there could be future challenges on the issue in New York.

New York Governor Patterson, in what is widely believed to be an attempt to build support for his upcoming race for re-election, has pushed vigorously for a vote on marriage equality rights in the state. However, most sources state that democrats are far from the 32 votes required for a victory in the Senate, with conservative Democrats siding with social conservative Republicans. Some have advocated for a vote regardless of a win, while other caution against yet another legislative loss after the upsetting revocation of marriage rights in Maine for same-sex couples.