Judge Rules MS Clerks Cannot Cite Religion To Abstain From Issuing Marriage Licenses

Sham marriage crackdown. File photo dated 28/08/14 of a pair of Wedding rings pictured on a greetings card featuring a love heart, as couples must give almost twice the official notice of their intention to wed from ... Sham marriage crackdown. File photo dated 28/08/14 of a pair of Wedding rings pictured on a greetings card featuring a love heart, as couples must give almost twice the official notice of their intention to wed from today as part of a crackdown on bogus marriages. Issue date: Monday March 2, 2015. A UK-wide extension from 15 to 28 days was approved by Parliament last year in order to allow more time for investigation. See PA story POLITICS Marriage. Photo credit should read: Anthony Devlin/PA Wire URN:22391162 MORE LESS
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JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that Mississippi clerks cannot cite their own religious beliefs to recuse themselves from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves’ ruling on Monday blocks the state from enforcing part of a religious objections bill that was supposed to become law Friday.

Reeves is extending his previous order that overturned Mississippi’s ban on same-sex marriage. He says circuit clerks are required to provide equal treatment for all couples, gay or straight.

Mississippi’s religious objections measure, House Bill 1523 , was filed in response to last summer’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay marriage nationwide.

Reeves has not yet ruled in two other lawsuits seeking to block all of the religious objections law, including provisions that could affect schools’ bathroom policies for transgender students.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed

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  1. Avatar for jcs jcs says:

    Finally, a sensible court ruling. You would have thought issuing a marriage license was like engaging in gay sex.
    The minds, or lack there of, of these crazy legislatures with these crazy laws. Where are their minds?

  2. It’s wrong for public servants to mistreat the public directly. It should be done indirectly, such as when Congress refuses to pass sensible gun legislation despite the fact that 90% of the public wants it.

  3. He is a remarkable judge. For those of you that have not read it, his statement read to 3 white men convicted of the murderer of a black man is very powerful, and well worth checking out.

  4. In an airport bathroom stall. With tapping toes and wide stances.

    NTTAWWT, just don’t be a hypocrite.

  5. Jesus fucking Christ, I thought we were through with this shit after that born again bitch with Huckabee was told to get her act together. Maybe it is time to start cracking down on these born again assholes.

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