Gay rights lawsuit rejected

MADISON, Wis. (AP) - The state Supreme Court has rejected a lawsuit challenging Wisconsin's domestic partner registry.

The court offered no explanation in an order issued Tuesday.

The registry offers gay couples legal benefits. More than 900 couples have signed up since it went into effect in August.

Wisconsin Family Action, a conservative group, filed a lawsuit in July claiming the registry violates the state constitution's ban on gay marriage and civil unions. The group asked the state Supreme Court to take it up directly without going through trial or appeals courts because of the issue's statewide significance.

The group's attorneys, Richard Esenberg and Michael Dean, issued a statement saying they were disappointed but the they could now bring the suit at the trial court level.