Judge Strikes All Arkansas Bans On Gay Marriage

[Purveyor]

Source: Associated Press

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) -- A judge cleared the way on Thursday for gay marriages to resume in Arkansas, striking down all state laws that prevent same-sex couples from wedding.

A day after the state Supreme Court effectively halted gay marriages in the state, Pulaski County Judge Chris Piazza expanded his ruling striking down a constitutional ban to also include the prohibition on clerks issuing same-sex marriage licenses. Justices had ruled Wednesday that Piazza's decision on the gay marriage ban did not change that license law.

Piazza also rejected a request to suspend his ruling, saying there's no evidence the state would be harmed by allowing gay marriages to continue.

"The same cannot be said of the plaintiffs and other same-sex couples who have not been afforded the same measure of human dignity, respect and recognition by this state as their similarly situated, opposite sex counterparts," Piazza wrote. "A stay would operate to further damage Arkansas families and deprive them of equal access to the rights associated with marriage status in this state."

Read more: http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GAY_MARRIAGE_ARKANSAS?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2014-05-15-15-03-14

[Swede Atlanta]

1. Way to go....

It appears the state Supreme Court looked at the original ruling and said it only applied to the specific plaintiffs in the case. So now it looks like the judge has amended his ruling to be broad and apply to all similarly-situated Arkansans.

[missingthebigdog]

5. Actually, no....

The State Supreme Court held that, because Judge Piazza did not SPECIFICALLY rule on ALL of the Plaintiff's claims, the order was not final and therefore not appealable.

Because one of those claims related to a law prohibiting County Clerks from issuing licenses, the State Supreme Court opined that Judge Piazza's ruling didn't permit them to do so. This Order fixes all of that.

This Order also paves the way for the inevitable appeal. Expect a few more ups and downs before it is over. . . .

[shenmue]

2. Whee!

[William769]

3. Good hopefully this will clear up any confusuion that people seem to have.

Don't even get me started on it was the right thing to do in the first place!

[Louisiana1976]

4. That's good news. K&R