A Pennsylvania judge has ordered an official in the state’s Montgomery County to stop issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in accordance with Pennsylvania’s ban on same-sex marriage.
The judge, Dan Pellegrini of the Commonwealth Court, has ordered Bruce Hanes, the Register of Wills there, to stop offering marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Pennsylvnia state law defines marriage as between “one man and one woman.” Pellergrini handed down his ruling on Thursday according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review.
“Unless and until the General Assembly repeals or suspends the Marriage Law provisions, or a court of competent jurisdiction (overturns it), the Marriage Law in its entirety is to be obeyed and enforced by all Commonwealth public officials,” Pellergrini wrote in his ruling.
Hanes began issuing licenses in June after the state’s attorney general, Kathleen Kane (D), said she would not defend the marriage ban on behalf of the state in a lawsuit by the American Civil Liberties Union arguing the law is unconstitutional.
Hanes has reportedly issued 174 marriage licenses to same-sex couples since June.
