A day after 15 gay couples were issued
marriage licenses in Arkansas, one county clerk announced on Sunday
that her office would not begin issuing licenses to gay couples
following a ruling handed down late Friday striking down the state's
ban on such unions.
After stalling for several hours,
Carroll County Clerk Jane Osborne on Saturday issued a marriage
license to Kristin Seaton and Jennifer Rambo of Fort Smith, making
them the first gay couple in Arkansas history to be issued a marriage
license. Osborne closed the doors at 1PM as scheduled, disappointing
many couples waiting in line.
Faulkner County Attorney David Hogue
released
a statement Sunday on behalf of County Clerk Melinda Reynolds
stating that Circuit Judge Chris Piazza's Friday ruling declaring the
state's ban unconstitutional “does not establish or strike down
statewide law.” Hogue said that until the Arkansas Supreme Court
rules on the matter, “Ms. Reynolds will continue to uphold state
law, as she is sworn to do.”
Unlike some judges in other states,
Piazza did not stay his ruling. State officials have said they will
appeal the decision.
Gay couples also married in Utah and
Michigan following similar rulings before a higher court put the
orders on hold pending appeals.