Manhattan, NY – In a sharply divided opinion on Windsor v. US, a panel of the Second Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled today that Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional, upholding a district court decision concerning the 1996 law that defines marriage as between one man and one woman for federal purposes, including benefits. This is the same case that is currently pending before the Supreme Court, awaiting a decision of whether the Court will take the case.