The Colorado Supreme Court on Friday
ordered Denver County to stop issuing marriage licenses to gay and
lesbian couples.
Boulder County Clerk Hillary Hall began
issuing the licenses after the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals in
Denver upheld a lower court's ruling striking down Utah's
constitutional amendment limiting marriage to heterosexual unions.
The Tenth Circuit's jurisdiction
includes Colorado, and Hall cited the ruling in explaining her
actions.
Denver County Clerk Debra Johnson and
Pueblo County Clerk Gilbert Ortiz followed suit after a judge ruled
that Hall can continue issuing the licenses. District Court Judge
Andrew Haman, however, said the validity of the licenses remains in
question.
Johnson immediately complied with the
order, but Hall and Ortiz, who are not affected by the ruling, said
they will continue issuing marriage licenses to gay couples,
according to The
Denver Post.
Colorado Attorney General John Suthers,
who turned to the high court to put a halt to the licenses,
acknowledged that the ruling only applies to Denver and Adams (which
is not issuing such licenses) counties, but said it was his hope that
other counties would voluntarily comply.