LANSING -- A federal judge has issued a ruling striking down as unconstitutional a Michigan law barring public employers from offering benefits to same-sex domestic partners.

The decision from U.S. District Judge David S. Lawson grants an injunction which prevents Gov. Rick Snyder and state officials from enforcing the 2011 law prohibiting cities, counties and other public employers from offering benefits to same-sex domestic partners.

A group of five same-sex couples had filed suit against Snyder and the state alleging the law violated the U.S. Constitution by violating due process and equal protection rights. Attorneys for the state had argued the couples lacked standing to bring the suit and had not suffered an identifiable injury as a result of the law.

The 51-page ruling from Judge Lawson dismisses the due process claim for lack of evidence. On the equal protection claim, however, Judge Lawson determined that the plaintiffs made a plausible claim that Public Act 297 violates the Equal Protection Clause of the federal constitution and have a likelihood of succeeding on that claim at trial. Because of that determination, Judge Lawson granted the injunction prohibiting enforcement of Public Act 297.

Judge Lawson cites statements made in support of the law by Rep. Pete Lund (R-Shelby Township) and now-former Rep. Dave Agema (R-Grandville) as evidence that the law was intended to unequally burden same-sex couples by denying them benefits.

"The plaintiffs fortify their position with statements from the sponsors of the legislation

suggesting that Public Act 297 targets same-sex partners and was motivated by animus," Lawson wrote.

The ruling prohibits the state from enforcing the law until a final ruling is made on the law's constitutionality, but does not require public employers to begin offering same-sex domestic partners any benefits.

The ACLU of Michigan, which is representing the couples, issued a statement following the ruling claiming victory for same-sex couples in Michigan.

“This law served no purpose to the state of Michigan other than to needlessly discriminate against hard-working families,” Kary Moss, the group's executive director, said. “It’s hard to encourage talented people and their families to work for public employers in Michigan when they’re denied the ability to take care of each other.”

Two of the plaintiffs named in the suit are employed by Ann Arbor Public Schools, and a district spokesperson said the district hopes to continue offering domestic partner benefits as a result of the ruling.

Brian Smith is the statewide education and courts reporter for MLive. Email him at bsmith11@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter or Facebook.