CO Supreme Court orders halt to Boulder same-sex marriages

The Colorado Supreme Court ordered Boulder County Clerk Hillary Hall to stop issuing same-sex marriage licenses Tuesday, after ruling in favor of Attorney General John Suthers.

Suthers told the Supreme Court that having one county issuing licenses caused “statewide confusion and legal chaos revolving around same-sex marriage in Colorado.”

Hall released a statement saying, “I am disappointed by the Colorado Supreme Court’s stay, but I will comply with the order. Given the avalanche of recent cases determining that same-sex marriage bans are unconstitutional, I am hopeful the stay will be short-lived and that we will be able to resume issuing licenses soon.”

Boulder County has issued 202 same-sex marriage licenses.

UPDATE: Out Boulder has released a statement

“Today’s ruling from the Colorado Supreme Court directing Boulder County to cease issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples is a deep disappointment for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people of our community but will not change Coloradans ultimate commitment to full marriage equality. The one bright spot in today’s court proceedings is that the more than 200 marriage licenses granted by Hillary Hall, Boulder County Clerk, to same gender loving couples remains valid.

“The state’s decision to continue to argue in favor of Colorado’s Defense of Marriage Act when this law has been found to be unconstitutional in many courts across this country is maddening”, said Mardi Moore, the Executive Director of Out Boulder.

“Today didn’t go as we had hoped however tomorrow is a new day in our struggle for full marriage equality. We are convinced that Colorado will one day and we hope that day comes soon will have full marriage equality. There have been more than 20 decisions in a row which have found that marriage equality is a right for all, not for some. Today’s decision merely delays access for Colorado residents, which, while extremely sad, will be reversed”, said Ann Noonan, the President of the Out Boulder Board”