Same Sex Marriage Update: Wisconsin Judge Rules Ban on Gay Marriages Unconstitutional
Gay marriages in Wisconsin are being allowed after a judge ruled Friday that the same-sex ban on marriages was unconstitutional, but other lawmakers are trying to get that decision halted.
State Attorney J.B. Van Hollen is asking for a temporary halt for the same-sex marriages that are currently happening in Wisconsin.
Van Hollen requested that U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb stay her decision, but she rejected that request.
Crabb did suggest that her court or the 7th Circuit could stop her ruling in the next coming weeks. That would prevent gay marriages for the time being as officials would be banned from granting licenses to same-sex couples.
Not all counties in Wisconsin are taking Crabb's ruling the same way. Some are refusing to allow gay marriages to take place.
Van Hollen and Crabb disagreed with the ruling and continue to seek change.
"Wisconsin's marriage law is in full force and effect, and all state and local officials are under a continuing duty to follow Wisconsin's marriage law unless and until the court enjoins that law," Van Hollen said in a statement.
But, gay marriages are being allowed, and couples are applauding the decision and quickly going to their county officials to get the marraiges confirmed.
"We're just going to keep cranking them out until they tell us not to," Dane County Register of Deeds Kristi Chlebowski said.
A decision on what happens next is expected Wednesday evening. Until then, same-sex marriages will continue.
Van Hollen knows the issue is likely to be disputed for a long time, but doesn't think counties should be allowed to make the decision to grant marriage licenses.
"The U.S. Supreme Court will almost certainly decide this important issue once and for all during its next term. There is absolutely no reason to allow Wisconsin's county clerks to decide for themselves, on a county-by-county basis, who may and may not lawfully get married in this state," he said.
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