CHICAGO — Cook County, Ill., has issued almost 1,000 marriage licenses since it was allowed to do so by a court ruling.
“We’ve had 950 license applications thus far and expect 1,000 by Friday,” said Courtney Greve, a spokeswoman for Cook County Clerk David Orr. “We also expect the numbers to go up because of planned summer weddings and the 60-day period it takes to get a license.”
Out-of state couples accounted for 20 percent of the licenses issued, the majority being from neighboring Indiana, reports the Chicago Sun-Times.
A state law legalizing same-sex marriage takes effect June 1, but a federal judge in Chicago ruled Feb. 21 that Illinois’ original ban was unconstitutional, although her ruling applied specifically to plaintiffs in Cook County.
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State Attorney General Lisa Madigan later issued an opinion that same-sex marriage could commence statewide, although most counties are waiting until June 1.