Supreme Court Won't Stop Gay Marriages in Florida

[steve2470]

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/supreme-court-stop-gay-marriages-florida-27728405

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday refused to block gay marriages in Florida, the latest of about three dozen states allowing same-sex weddings.

In a one-paragraph order, the court decided not to step into the Florida case. A federal judge previously declared Florida's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional and said same-sex marriage licenses could start being issued in the state after Jan. 5 unless the Supreme Court intervened.

"This is a thrilling day for all Florida families," Daniel Tilley, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties of Florida, said in a statement. "As we explained to the court, every day that the ban remains in place, couples are suffering real harms. We are grateful that the court recognized that, and that as a result, those days are finally coming to an end."

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who has fought to uphold the state's ban, said in a statement that her goal was "to have uniformity" throughout the state while various legal challenges were pursued in both state and federal courts.

[kydo]

1. K&R

Great news!

[William769]

2. Unfortunately there still may be a hiccup.

Unfortunately, couples who attempt to obtain licenses January 6 may still be turned away. The Florida Association of Clerks and Comptrollers has warned its members that because the state's marriage ban remains on the books and because litigation is still ongoing, issuing licenses to gay and lesbian couples remains a criminal act in Florida. Clerks who issue licenses could face up to a year in jail, the group said.

http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2014/12/19/supreme-court-rebuffs-florida-marriages-begin

Well at least I was happy for about 30 minutes.

[csziggy]

4. I doubt that will last - the Washington County decision sets precedence

Couples should go to every county and attempt to buy marriage licenses - if refused, sue in every other county in Florida.

In an interesting twist:

Top law firm that advised clerks not to issue gay-marriage licenses supports gay marriage

By Steve Rothaus
12/19/2014 6:50 PM

Top law firm Greenberg Traurig — which advised county clerks in Florida they risk criminal charges if they issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples — on Friday announced it actually supports the couples’ right to marry.

“The advice provided by Greenberg Traurig to our client, the Florida Association of Clerks and Comptrollers, addresses a Florida clerk’s duties under existing Florida law, which prohibits the issuance of same-sex marriage licenses. Current Florida law makes it a crime — punishable by imprisonment or a fine — to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple. Greenberg Traurig is not advising the clerks as to the constitutionality of the Florida ban on same-sex marriage,” Hilarie Bass, the firm’s Miami-based co-president, said in a statement to the Miami Herald.

On Monday, Greenberg Traurig, on behalf of gay adoptive father Martin Gill, will file a friend-of-the-court brief in Florida’s Third District Court of Appeal “in support of two circuit court orders declaring unconstitutional Florida’s ban on same-sex marriage,” Bass said.

Bass and Greenberg Traurig, along with the ACLU of Florida, helped represent Gill in his quest to overturn a 1977 Florida law that prohibited gays and lesbians from adopting. Gill adopted his foster sons in 2010.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/gay-south-florida/article4694670.html#storylink=cpy

[csziggy]

3. What wonderful news!

I wonder what The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers Association will have to say about this?

Florida clerks warned criminal charges possible for issuing same-sex marriage licenses
http://www.bradenton.com/2014/12/16/5535308/florida-clerks-warned-criminal.html

The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers Association on Tuesday notified members throughout the state they could be “guilty of a criminal act” if they issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Making the issue of gay-marriage in Florida even murkier, the state’s court clerks association notified members Tuesday they could be “guilty of a criminal act” if they issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples if a federal judge’s hold on same-sex marriages expires Jan.5.

“Florida’s Court Clerks & Comptrollers’ duty is to act in accordance with Florida law,” the association said in a statement. “Florida Statutes are unique in regard to prohibiting the issuance of a marriage license to a couple that is not a man and a woman, in that it provides that a Clerk who violates this prohibition is guilty of a criminal act and subject to a fine and/or imprisonment.”

The statement came after the association’s legal counsel, law firm Greenberg Traurig, warned that only the clerk in North Florida’s Washington County — specifically named in the federal gay-marriage lawsuit — would be bound by a ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert L. Hinkle of Tallahassee, who in August found the state’s gay-marriage ban unconstitutional.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2014/12/16/5535308/florida-clerks-warned-criminal.html#storylink=cpy

It looks as though they made asses out of themselves for no good reason.

Oh well, back to being happy!

[nomorenomore08]

5. "This is a thrilling day for all Florida families."

And this is exactly what the right-wing Christians hate having "rubbed in their faces" - the plain fact that same-sex families are families like any other.

[tooeyeten]

6. Will they or won't they?

On Jan 6 issue licenses?

[davidn3600]

7. Only Thomas and Scalia wanted the stay to be kept in place

Surprise, surprise...