ALBANY - A New York State Supreme Court Tuesday ruled that Governor David Paterson’s May memo telling state agencies to recognize the marriages of lesbian and gay couples performed in other states and countries is legal. The decision relied heavily on a landmark New York Civil Liberties Union victory in the case Martinez v. County of Monroe.

“This is a victory for fairness and a victory for the rule of law,” said Donna Lieberman, NYCLU executive director. “When the governor issued his memo, he was just doing what any civil servant should do – following the law.”

In May, Paterson directed all state agencies to follow the law and revise their policies to recognize marriages of same-sex couples performed in other jurisdictions, which include Massachusetts, California and Canada. Though Paterson’s memo made headlines, many state agencies and municipalities have had such policies for years.