(CNN) -- A Florida circuit judge Tuesday struck down a 31-year-old state law that prevents gays and lesbians from adopting children, allowing a North Miami man to adopt two half-brothers he and his partner have raised as foster children since 2004. Martin Gill looks on as a judge overturns a ban preventing gays and lesbians from adopting children. "There is no question, the blanket exclusion of gay applicants defeats Florida's goal of providing dependent children a permanent family through adoption," Judge Cindy S. Lederman wrote in her 53-page ruling. "The best interests of children are not preserved by prohibiting homosexual adoption."
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NEW: Ruling clears way for North Miami man to adopt two half-brothers
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NEW: Florida attorney general's office said it intends to appeal
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Judge says Florida law banning gays from adopting children is unconstitutional
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Florida is only state specifically banning all "homosexual" people from adopting
Lederman's ruling paves the way for @placeholder to legally adopt the two half-brothers, ages 4 and 8, whom he has cared for since December 2004, the American Civil Liberties Union said.