Federal judge says US constitution compels Florida county clerks to issue marriage licenses to gay couples
THE GUARDIAN
FLORIDA---A federal judge in north Florida ruled on Thursday that county clerks statewide must issue marriage licenses to all same-sex couples who request them starting on 6 January, the effective date of his decision to overturn Florida’s ban on gay matrimony as unconstitutional. Ruling on the merits of the case on 21 August, Hinkle struck down a 2008 voter-approved amendment to the state constitution defining marriage exclusively as the legal union of one man and one woman. But he temporarily stayed his own ruling to give the state an opportunity to appeal. [link]
FLORIDA---A federal judge in north Florida ruled on Thursday that county clerks statewide must issue marriage licenses to all same-sex couples who request them starting on 6 January, the effective date of his decision to overturn Florida’s ban on gay matrimony as unconstitutional. Ruling on the merits of the case on 21 August, Hinkle struck down a 2008 voter-approved amendment to the state constitution defining marriage exclusively as the legal union of one man and one woman. But he temporarily stayed his own ruling to give the state an opportunity to appeal. [link]
