Just Like That, Gay Marriage Is Once Again Legal in California
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has lifted its order putting on hold a state court ruling determining that Prop 8 is unconstitutional. Or, in other words: thanks to the Supreme Court throwing out a challenge to the decision earlier this week, Judge Vaughn Walker's 2010 determination that the law barring gay marriages in the state violated California's constitution is now in force.
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"The stay in the above matter is dissolved effective immediately," the Court wrote. With that, and a bit ahead of schedule, gay marriage is once again legal in California.
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The Los Angeles Times reports:
A spokesman for the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals had originally said it would takes the court at least 25 days to act after a Supreme Court ruling. Immediately afterward, Gov. Jerry Brown ordered his public health agency to advise the state's counties to "begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in California as soon as the 9th Circuit confirms the stay is lifted."
With the order today, which can be read in all of its brevity below, that process is now complete.
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The Times notes that "clerks began receiving calls Wednesday from gay couples wanting to schedule appointments." They still have a few hours to get to the clerk's office before the weekend.
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Photo: San Francisco City Hall last night. (AP)
