A New Mexico judge has order Los Alamos County Clerk Sharon Stover
to begin issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples.
According to the Los
Alamos Monitor, District Court Judge Sheri Raphaelson ordered
Stover to begin issuing such licenses or appear in court to explain
why that shouldn't happen.
Stover said she would announce her decision no later than 4 PM on
Tuesday.
“I consider this to be a matter of great importance,” Stover
said in a written statement, “not only to Los Alamos County, but to
all other County Clerks in New Mexico.”
“I have not had adequate time yet to review the documentation we
just received with our County Attorney, and thus I am not ready to
make a statement to media about whether or not I will comply with
Judge Raphaelson's request at this time.”
Janet Newton and Maria Thibodeau filed the lawsuit against Los
Alamos County after Stover denied the couple a marriage license.
The move comes after six counties covering 56 percent of New
Mexico's population began issuing marriage licenses to gay couples.
(Related: 6
New Mexico counties issue marriage licenses to gay couples, cover 56%
of state.)
A group of Republican lawmakers are behind an effort to block
county clerks from issuing additional licenses.
(Related: GOP
lawmakers sue to stop NM clerk from issuing marriage licenses to gay
couples.)
On Thursday, a district judge in Albuquerque allowed the New
Mexico Association of Counties and 31 county clerks to intervene in a
separate lawsuit.
Daniel Ivey-Soto, the group's executive director, said they would
file an appeal with the state Supreme Court next week.
“The intent of the clerks is to get clarity in the law as
quickly as possible both so the clerks understand their lawful
responsibilities and so the public understands what is appropriate
under New Mexico law or not appropriate under New Mexico law,” said
Ivey-Soto, a lawyer and Democratic state senator from Albuquerque.