Same-sex marriage is once again legal in the state of Utah.
The U.S. Supreme Court declined on Oct. 6 to review the state’s appeal of a federal judge’s December 2013 ruling that struck down the Beehive State’s voter-approved gay marriage ban.
None of the high court’s nine justices explained why they decided not to hear appeals of gay marriage cases in Utah and four other states. But word of their decision had an immediate effect in Utah.
The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, which previously ruled 2-1 against the state’s ban, struck down a stay that temporarily put gay marriages in Utah on hold, pending further word from the Supreme Court.
In response, Gov. Gary Herbert ordered state agencies to recognize all legally-performed same-sex marriages.
Grand County Clerk Diana Carroll said her office received a similar order from the governor. Word of the decision traveled fast, and within a matter of hours, Carroll’s office issued a marriage license to a gay couple for the first time since the 10th Circuit’s temporary stay took effect earlier this year.
“We just issued a license right now,” Carroll said Oct. 6. “They just barely walked out the door.”
Couple gets hitched in Moab on same day
We just issued a license right now. They just barely walked out the door.
