Attorneys for Pa.’s Republican governor say gay couples, just like 12-year-olds, can’t marry

[happyslug]

21. Till the late 1990s, 12 years olds could marry in Pennylsvania

PA Supreme Court made that ruling in a case where a Teacher was having sex with a 12 year old student. His defense was they had entered into a valid Common Law Marriage. The age of consent to have sex, under the Common Law, had been 12 and since the State Legislature had NEVER addresses Common Law Marriages at all, the Age of Consent to enter into a Valid Common Law Marriage remained at age 12 (The State Legislature made it the law you had to be over 18 to enter into a Common Law Marriage soon after that decision, then in Abolish the right to enter into Common Law Marriages after January 1, 2005).

And in that case, the Court also ruled that Consent of the 12 year old's parents was also NOT needed, for that had been the Common Law Rule in England and thus also in Pennsylvania.