Colorado leaders request same-sex marriage ban to be found unconstitutional

In a unique response to Boulder County Clerk Hillary Hall’s issuance of same-sex marriage certificates, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers and Governor Hickenlooper have asked for the same-sex marriage ban in Colorado to be defined as unconstitutional. With this request, they have also asked for a stay on the ruling until the Supreme Court makes a decision regarding the 10th Court Circuit ruling of unconstitutional same-sex marriage bans.

Suthers has argued against Boulder’s same-sex marriage licenses (though any Attorney General would be obligated to do so) and Governor Hickenlooper (who is for gay marriage) has joined him in his efforts for a stay until the Supreme Court makes a decision. They disagree around the fundamentals of the court decision for the Utah case, but agree that Colorado should avoid a costly litigation over one county’s dissent of the current law.

A statement by Gov. Hickenlooper reads, “We understand there is frustration with the lengthy judicial process, but waiting until the legal process is finished will ensure that marriage licenses issued to same sex couples are not clouded by uncertainty. We hope the U.S. Supreme Court will take this matter up quickly. Equality for everyone can’t come soon enough.”

Read the associated press story here.