Judge hears federal worker’s spousal coverage case

A federal appeals court lawyer has found herself in the odd position of suing the U.S. government over its refusal to extend health insurance to her same-sex spouse.

A District Court judge in San Francisco heard arguments Friday in Karen Golinski’s lawsuit against the Office of Personnel Management. Golinski’s boss, 9th Circuit Chief Judge Alex Kozinski, has twice ordered OPM to authorize insurance coverage for her wife.

The office has argued that the federal Defense of Marriage Act bars it from recognizing same-sex unions.

During Friday’s hearing, Judge Jeffrey White questioned why the Justice Department was fighting the case when President Obama called DOMA “abhorrent” when he was running for office. White did not immediately issue a ruling.

via AP