Michigan says it will wait for a
Supreme Court ruling in a case challenging gay marriage bans in four
states before altering marriage forms, but several clerks say they're
prepared to act on their own.
Michigan is among the four states
involved in the case. Heard in April, a ruling is expected at any
moment and could lead to nationwide marriage equality.
Jennifer Smith, spokeswoman for the
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, said that decisions
would not be finalized until after the ruling and she wouldn't commit
to saying how long the process might take.
“Right now, we're waiting for the
court ruling,” she told The
Detroit Free Press. “Any changes necessary to the marriage
license form would be reviewed and finalized after the ruling.”
“We're just waiting for the court to
make its decision and we'll move forward from there,” she added.
Barb Byrum, clerk of Ingham County,
promised to move faster.
“I will only wait for it to be
legal,” she said, “I will not wait for direction from the
attorney general or any such individual. I will wait for the court
to decide and go from there.”
Macomb County Clerk/Register of Deeds
Carmella Sabaugh said that her office would alter the wording on the
form if the state does not provide updated forms.
Kalamazoo's county clerk, Timothy Snow,
said his office was “as ready as we can be.”