Gay and lesbian couples began arriving at Louisiana courts seeking marriage licenses shortly after this morning’s historic ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court to legalize same-sex marriages nationwide. But in a statement issued shortly after the ruling, state Attorney General Buddy Caldwell says he sees nothing in the court’s ruling making the order effective immediately.
Caldwell joined other Louisiana politicians in condemning the ruling as, in his own words, “an intrusion into what should be a state issue.”
The Louisiana Clerks Association is advising local clerks of court to wait for a 25-day period for the high court to consider a rehearing to elapse before issuing licenses.
The Association Press reports two gay couples in Louisiana immediately sought a license this morning at the state vital records office in New Orleans but were still waiting as of this afternoon. Reports also indicated that same-sex couples seeking licenses in Lafayette.
Meanwhile, gay rights attorneys took steps to cement the newly won right in one of the few states where a voter-approved constitutional ban on gay marriage had been upheld by a federal judge.
Kenneth Upton, attorney for the organization Lambda Legal, wrote the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals seeking an immediate reversal of U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman’s order upholding the ban. The 5th Circuit heard arguments on bans in Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas several months ago and decisions in each were pending. Also pending was a state Supreme Court decision of an appeal of a state district judge’s ruling against the ban.
Chris Otten, chairman-elect of the Forum for Equality Louisiana, a gay rights group, acknowledged it was unlikely officials in all 64 parishes in Louisiana would immediately begin issuing licenses.
“I don’t think it’s unreasonable for some of the clerks to meet with their counsel and decide how they’re going to go forward,” Otten says. “But this is happening.”
A celebration of the decision was planned this afternoon at Jackson Square in New Orleans’ French Quarter.
Gov. Bobby Jindal issued a statement on the ruling this morning, saying: “The Supreme Court decision today conveniently and not surprisingly follows public opinion polls, and tramples on states’ rights that were once protected by the 10th Amendment of the Constitution. Marriage between a man and a woman was established by God, and no earthly court can alter that.”
