At the close of the bankruptcy proceedings, First Bank still has not recovered the full value of the

loan. The closure of the proceedings bars First Bank from pursuing Besman or his spouse further.

However, Arthur Bessman is gay, and married Cyan De Valois in New York earlier this year.

First Bank then begins collection proceedings against De Valois. This is due to the Defense of

Marriage Act (DOMA), which requires that the federal government recognize only marriages

between a man and a woman. Explain why a U.S. Bankruptcy judge overtumed DOMA when De

Valois objected to First Bank's attempt to collect from him.