a court order to allow same-sex marriages. the new mexico supreme court ruled in december that same-sex couples in the state could legally marry and the most recent and stunning development a federal judge in utah ruled that the state s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional. and hundreds of couples have gotten married since that ruling came down on december 20th. the state is appealing the decision but for now the weddings are happening. 18 states in the district of columbia have marriage equality now, and the federal government recognizes those marriages as legal. it was less than ten years ago that massachusetts became the first state to allow marriage equality. now that s at least something to celebrate for the new year. joining me now is kenji yoshino, the chief justice earl warren professor of constitutional law at nyu school of law. tremain lee, national reporter for msnbc.com. ari berman, contributing writer to the nation and author of herding donkeys.