Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Judge Punishes Loving Couple By Making Them Get Divorced


By

Jaya Saxena

Published Aug 25, 2010

Modified Aug 25, 2010


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Jaya Saxena

Published Aug 25, 2010

Modified Aug 25, 2010


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

The terrifying world those Prop 8 supporters worried about has arrived—judges are forcing loving, straight couples into divorce! Queens Supreme Court Justice Charles Markey is refusing to throw out one couple's divorce case, even though they say they've reconciled, because their divorce was wasting the court's time and money. The judge wrote, "The remedy for these former litigants is to make new vows and a fresh start by remarrying. The court ... congratulates the plaintiff and the defendant on their professed reconciliation."

The couple, whose names were not released, said they just want the divorce wiped from the records, mostly for religious stigma reasons. The husband said, "If we simply got remarried we would forever be aware that a divorce judgment still exists between us. But divorce lawyer Raoul Felder says the punishment fits the crime. "The courtroom is not a place for a judge to play marriage counselor on the public's dime...Particularly in bad economic times people can't play games with the system. They're trying to take a shortcut and that shouldn't be allowed." On top of that, the judge questions their reconciliation, as they still haven't moved back in with each other. Couldn't they just build a "divorce wall" and call it a day?

Tagged

divorce

marriage

queens supereme court


Jaya Saxena

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

6-year-old girl breaks leg after getting hit by falling bricks in Queens

The girl was walking with her mother in Maspeth on Thursday. The Department of Buildings cited the owner of a garage for “failure to maintain” it.

By

Charles Lane

Published Oct 23, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. ET


Mamdani extends ban on permits for new street fairs due to NYPD overtime

Critics say the moratorium harms businesses in neighborhoods without a tradition of street fairs.

By

Carol Chen

News

Mamdani extends ban on permits for new street fairs due to NYPD overtime

Critics say the moratorium harms businesses in neighborhoods without a tradition of street fairs.

By

Carol Chen


Inside the Midtown Bus Terminal rebuild: Decks over Lincoln Tunnel approach, a new park

By

Ramsey Khalifeh

Black couple seeking Queens apartment sues over racist text from broker

By

Brittany Kriegstein

NJ early voting begins Saturday. Here's everything you need to know.

By

Mike Hayes


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .