News (USA)

7th Circuit lifts stays, ending Indiana, Wisconsin same-sex marriage bans

7th Circuit lifts stays, ending Indiana, Wisconsin same-sex marriage bans
Tony Larsen, 65, pastor at Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church, left, and partner Craig Matheus, 62, verify their vital information with Joanne Smith, deputy clerk as they apply for a marriage license on Monday, Oct. 6, 2014 in the County Clerk's office inside the Racine County Courthouse in Racine, Wis. The Racine County Clerk's office began taking applications for marriage licenses at about noon Monday after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the appeal of a lower court ruling.
Tony Larsen, 65, pastor at Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church, left, and partner Craig Matheus, 62, verify their vital information with Joanne Smith, deputy clerk as they apply for a marriage license on Monday, Oct. 6, 2014 in the County Clerk’s office inside the Racine County Courthouse in Racine, Wis. The Racine County Clerk’s office began taking applications for marriage licenses at about noon Monday after the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the appeal of a lower court ruling. Soctt Anderson, The Journal Times (AP)

CHICAGO — The federal appeals court in Chicago has issued mandates, formally ending the bans on same-sex marriage in Indiana and Wisconsin.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Tuesday issued orders lifting a stay that was in place while the U.S. Supreme Court considered whether to hear appeals from Indiana, Wisconsin, and three other states to keep same-sex marriage bans in place.

The appeals court action comes a day after the Supreme Court said it wouldn’t hear those appeals.

Article continues below

Same-sex marriages in Indiana had been blocked since a few days after District Judge Richard Young in Evansville struck down the state’s ban, which led hundreds of gay and lesbian couples to rush to get married.

Republican Gov. Mike Pence said Monday he remained committed to traditional marriage but that his administration will follow the court’s decisions.

In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker and Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen conceded Monday that the fight over same-sex marriage was over.

Indiana mandate. Wisconsin mandate.

Associated Press contributed to this report.

Indiana clerks must issue same-sex marriage licenses

Updated: 1:00 p.m. EDT

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – The Indiana attorney general’s office is telling all county clerks in the state that they must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

The attorney general’s office sent out the message Tuesday soon after the federal appeals court in Chicago formally lifted Indiana’s gay marriage ban.

The appeals court action comes a day after the U.S. Supreme Court said it wouldn’t hear appeals from Indiana and four other states seeking to keep gay marriage bans in place.

Chief Deputy Attorney General Matt Light tells county clerks they can’t deny marriage licenses to same-sex couples so long as they meet all other license requirements.


Judge in Wisconsin says hold on same-sex marriages is lifted

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – A federal judge in Wisconsin says she is lifting her hold on an order allowing same-sex marriages to take place in Wisconsin.

Judge Barbara Crabb declared Wisconsin’s ban on gay marriage unconstitutional in June, but she put her ruling on hold a week later while the state appealed. The hold was set to expire as soon as appeals ended.

That happened Monday, when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review an appeals court decision upholding Crabb’s ruling.

Crabb says no additional action is needed to let same-sex couples begin to marry. But she also says there’s some confusion on the matter, so on Tuesday she issued a memo to make it clear that the hold was lifted.

Crabb says Wisconsin can no longer enforce its gay marriage ban.

© 2014, Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Don't forget to share:

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Same-sex marriage focus shifts back to district, federal appeals courts

Previous article

Peter LaBarbera vows ‘massive civil disobedience’ to block same-sex marriages

Next article