Child marriage is legal in California. Yes, that’s as bad as it sounds

(Originally published by San Francisco Chronicle on April 27, 2023)

Gloria Chikaonda
Gloria Chikaonda, JSM ’20, JSD ’23

Earlier this month, a Missouri Republican state senator made headlines after he implied that 12-year-olds should be allowed to get married. “Do you know any kids who have been married at age 12? I do. And guess what. They’re still married,” said state Sen. Mike Moon in response to being called out by a Democratic colleague for voting against a bill that would ban adults from marrying 12-year-olds who had parental consent.

Although he later clarified he was referring to a case of two 12-year-olds getting married, the obvious question still remains: Should children really be permitted to marry?

(Continue reading the opinion essay on San Francisco Chronicle’s page here.)