WASHINGTON — A divided U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday declared unconstitutional the Defense of Marriage of Act of 1996, which blocked federal benefits to legally married same-sex couples. Justice Anthony Kennedy delivered the opinion for the court.

The court, separately, let stand a lower court ruling that struck down California's Proposition 8, which banned gay marriages. The Prop 8 opinion is here. The court did not reach the merits of the case, however.