justices determined 4 to 3 that the appropriate remedy should be left to the legislature because "such change must come from the crucible of the democratic process", the New York Times said New Jersey "could be considered the new Vermont". Vermont legalized same-sex marriage effective September 1, 2009. Civil unions entered into prior to September 1 continued to be recognized as civil unions unless the couple married. See also LGBT rights in Vermont Same-sex marriage in Vermont The State of Marriage, a 2015 documentary film on same-sex marriage that focuses in part on the lawsuit Notes References Further reading David Moats, Civil Wars: A Battle for Gay Marriage (Mariner Books, 2005), External links Baker v. Vermont, 744 A.2d 864 Vermont state case law 1999 in United States case law LGBT in Vermont 1999 in Vermont United States same-sex union case law Chittenden County, Vermont 1999 in LGBT history