Judge to monitor Kansas' actions on gay marriage for 3 years

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A federal judge has told Kansas that for three more years he will monitor its compliance with the U.S. Supreme Court's historic decision legalizing gay marriage across the nation.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree issued a permanent order Friday barring the state from treating same-sex couples differently than opposite-sex couples in allowing them to marry or extending the benefits of marriage to them.

He ruled in lawsuit filed in 2014 against the state's health and revenue departments. The Department of Revenue also issues driver's licenses.

The U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision last year.

Crabtree said the state's actions since the high court ruling suggested Kansas might not fully comply without a permanent injunction.

The attorney general's office did not immediately return telephone and email messages seeking comment.

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The Gayly - 7/22/2016 @ 4:35 p.m. CDT