A judge has approved the request of two
Illinois county clerks to intervene in a lawsuit challenging the
constitutionality of the state's gay marriage ban.
The Thomas More Society on Friday filed
a request to intervene on behalf of Tazewell County Clerk Christine
Webb and Effingham County Clerk Kerry Hirtzel.
Webb and Hirtzel moved to defend the
ban because Cook County State's Attorney Anita Alvarez and Attorney
General Lisa Madigan have said they disagree with the law and won't
defend it. Cook County Clerk David Orr, who is named in the suit,
also applauded the legal challenge.
Because Webb and Hirtzel are the
“keepers of marriage licenses” they have an interest in ensuring
that the law is applied uniformly across the state, explained Peter
Breen, executive director of The Thomas More Society.
“[W]e believe we have very good
arguments to prevail because of the large body of case law that goes
our way on it,” Breen told the AP. “We had notified clerks that
we believe they have … a strong interest in intervening.”
Webb, a Democrat, said she held no
position on gay marriage.
(Related: Illinois
gay marriage lawsuits combined.)