Judge Denies Marriage License For First Cousins

A Blair County, Pa., judge won't make an exception for two first cousins who want to marry, even though the couple told the judge they don't want to have children.Blair County Judge Jolene Kopriva Wednesday denied the marriage license application of 46-year-old Eleanor Amrhein and 39-year-old Donald W. Andrews Sr. of Logan Township, Pa.The couple say they've been together for several years, but Kopriva told the couple that state law bars first cousins from marrying because of an increased likelihood their children will have birth defects.