ABA Journal:  “A federal appeals court has struck down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act.

The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled the law discriminates against married gay couples who are denied federal benefits, the Associated Press reports. The case is “all but certain to wind up before the U.S. Supreme Court,” AP says.

Ruling on equal protection and federalism grounds, the appeals court said rationales offered in support of the federal benefit ban are not sufficient.”