DENVER (AP) — Colorado’s Supreme Court on Friday ordered Denver’s clerk to stop issuing marriage licenses togay couples while while the state’s ban against the unions remains in place.
The two-page ruling noted that a judge who earlier this month ruled the ban was unconstitutional stayed his decision pending appeal, meaning the prohibition remains active.
Denver Clerk & Recorder Debra Johnson is one of three clerks in Colorado who began issuing licenses to same-sex couples recently after a string of legal victories for gay marriage in the state.
The state Supreme Court granted a request by Colorado Attorney General John Suthers for an emergency ruling prohibiting the issuance of the licenses. But the panel’s brief order only named Johnson and another clerk who has yet to distribute any documents because they were parties to the initial lawsuit that was stayed.
Several other county clerks had asked the court for clarity on whether they could distribute marriage licenses as well.
Suthers is also appealing the lower court’s finding that the 2006 voter-approved ban is unconstitutional to the state supreme court.
A Republican, he has acknowledged that gay marriage will eventually be legal in Colorado but says he has an obligation to defend the state’s laws all the way to the high court.
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“A Republican, he has acknowledged that gay marriage will eventually be legal in Colorado but says he has an obligation to defend the state’s laws all the way to the high court.” Why?
Does the Far Right actually believe that by delaying Federal District Court rulings that they will eventually force the nation to accept their religious viewpoints on marriage? Well I have two words for the Far Right, they’re not Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday or whatever two word combination that is both nice and courteous. In fact those two words are vulgar and descriptive of the ideals of the Far Right.
Also why the hell does the Attorney General of Colorado believe that he has to spend the kind of money that it’s going to take to defend a position that is fast becoming a thing of the past? He’s doing this to have the other Far Right Squirrel Nut Jobz believe he’s acting in the best interests of a small but vocal minority. If I was a voter in Colorado, I would demand a refund of the portion of taxes that support the Attorney General’s office.
Trying to stop the tide with your hands will not win the GOP any favors with voters. But let’s keep wasting the taxpayers money fighting more losing battles in court to keep denying people their equal rights under the law. Pathetic.
So although he knows it is a losing battle he will fight on in the name of Republican grifterdom. Make sure all the nuts (Republicans) know he is taking it as far as he can, and please send donations for his upcoming campaign.
well they are the party of fiscal responsibility or so they say… They should really look up what that really means.
“…says he has an obligation to defend the state’s laws…”
The state’s laws are meant to reflect the will of the people. It is not the mission or purpose of elected officials to twist the law or to construct procedural hoops in order “defend” government.
We are government. Not him.