NEW YORK -- Yet another federal court has ruled the so-called Defense of Marriage Act, aka DOMA, is unconstitutional.

The First Circuit Court of Appeals in New York upheld a lower court ruling that found DOMA was unconstitutional, sticking another hole in the federal law that discriminates against legally married gay and lesbian couples.

The ruling by a three-judge panel was authored by Judge Michael Boudin, who was nominated by President George H.W. Bush, a Republican. It involves two closely-watched cases: