Colorado is one of several states where same-sex marriage will soon begin, following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to not hear appeals from five states seeking to continue prohibiting them.
The court rejected appeals from Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin, which immediately ends delays on same-sex marriage in those states.
Colorado, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wyoming are bound by the same appellate court rulings that overturned the bans. With the Supreme Court’s decision, same-sex marriages could also begin in those states in short order.
In Colorado, county clerks said they’re reviewing the ruling to see what to do next:
Thrilled to hear @Scotus decision will give so many loving families ability to marry. Reviewing what this means for Denver #MarriageEquality
— Hon. Paul D. López (@MileHighClerk) October 6, 2014
Great news SCOTUS! We'e reviewing what this means with Supreme Court stay issued. Hope to be issuing licenses soon. #MarriageEquality
— Hillary Hall (@HillHall) October 6, 2014
Exciting news this morning from the Supreme Court -- evaluating what this means in Colorado. Stay tuned. #MarriageEquality #jeffco
— Jeffco Clerk and Recorder (@JeffCoClerk) October 6, 2014
There are questions surrounding a Colorado Supreme Court stay issued for same-sex marriages in Denver and in Adams County and how Monday’s decision can be interpreted.
The order imposed in June followed an emergency request by Colorado Attorney General John Suthers asking Denver and Adams County to stop issuing same-sex marriage licenses.
Boulder County also continues to be under a Colorado Supreme Court Stay. Clerk and Recorder Hillary Hall was the first in the state to begin issuing licenses following the decision by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals overturning of Utah’s same-sex marriage ban. Denver and Pueblo Counties soon followed.
In a statement released Monday morning, Colorado's Attorney General said the state will file motions to 'expedite the lifting' of the several stays in both federal and state courts and would than advise county clerks when to begin issuing licenses.
“We have consistently maintained that we will abide by the Supreme Court's determination on the Constitutionality of marriage laws. By choosing not to take up the matter, the court has left the 10th Circuit ruling in place," said Suthers.
"We expect the 10th Circuit will issue a final order governing Colorado very shortly. Once the formalities are resolved, clerks across the state must begin issuing marriage licenses to all same-sex couples."
The Denver Post reports the Supreme Court's decision is causing a frantic scramble in affected states across the country.
Including this most recent ruling, 30 states now allow same-sex marriage, including the District of Columbia. There are challenges pending in every state.
You can read Suthers' statement in full here:
