LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska judge has struck down a policy that prevented same-sex couples from serving as foster parents or adopting state wards.

Lancaster County District Judge John Colborn declared the rules unconstitutional, citing the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed same-sex marriage. A spokeswoman for Nebraska Attorney General Doug Peterson said Thursday that their office was still reviewing the decision.

The policy was put in place in 1995, but the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services quietly stopped enforcing the ban in 2012.

According to the ruling, the lack of enforcement created confusion within the department. Same-sex couples were also forced to undergo a more rigorous review than others.

The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed on behalf of three same-sex couples.