Update: 10/7/14, 10:38 am
The El Paso County Clerk and Recorder's Office has announced same-sex marriage licenses are available at the clerk's office, effective immediately. In a statement, the office says they received "final clearance" from the office of Attorney General John Suthers.
The Colorado Supreme Court this morning removed legal issues that prevented county clerks from issuing the licenses. In a statement, Attorney General John Suthers said, "Beginning today, Colorado's 64 county clerks are legally required to issue licenses to same-sex couples who request them."
---Original Post---
Following the U.S. Supreme Court's refusal today to hear petitions related to bans on gay marriage, Colorado’s Attorney General John Suthers says all 64 county clerks will begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses in the near future.
In a statement, Attorney General Suthers said Colorado would always abide by the Supreme Court’s determination on same-sex marriage. By deciding not to hear the appeals, Suthers said the nine justices have left the lower 10th circuit court’s ruling on same-sex marriage in place, and since Colorado is under its jurisdiction, he will instruct clerks to issue marriage licenses soon.
The Attorney General had vigorously defended Colorado’s 2006 constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. Earlier this year he requested emergency stays blocking clerks in Boulder, Denver, and Adams County from issuing same-sex marriage licenses. Suthers says his office will file motions to expedite the lifting of those stays and will advise clerks when they can begin issuing licenses to same-sex couples.
At least one gay couple arrived at the Pueblo County Clerk’s office today. But Clerk Gilbert “Bo” Ortiz isn’t sure about those who got marriages licenses in Pueblo earlier this year.
“We understand that the secretary of state is telling people that they should come back in and get married again since when I did it, it wasn’t as clear cut as it is now,” says Ortiz. “I don’t agree with that, but I’m waiting for my attorney’s perspective on it.”
Ortiz said he issued licenses to 40 couples in July, before a court ruling against Boulder County and an order from the Colorado Attorney General forced him to stop.
A spokesman with the El Paso County Clerk and Recorders office told the Gazette they’re taking steps necessary to comply with the law once it’s officially changed.
