The Latest: Counties Waiting On Same-sex Licenses
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The latest South Dakota reaction over Supreme Court ruling that says gay couples nationwide may marry:
10:15 a.m.
County officials from across South Dakota say they’re waiting for direction from state officials before they begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Officials in Minnehaha, Pennington, Brown and Codington counties say they can’t issue licenses until they hear from the Department of Health, who overseas vital records like marriage certificates. Officials there are deferring to the governor and attorney general, who haven’t yet given clear guidance.
The Supreme Court ruled Friday that same-sex marriage should be legal nationwide, but the court gave the losing side about three weeks to ask for reconsideration. Some state officials and county clerks might decide there is little risk in issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Kathy Lindemann is the chief deputy of the register of deeds in Brown County. She says once they hear from the state register of deeds, “we’re good to go.”
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9:55 a.m.
Gov. Dennis Daugaard says South Dakota will comply with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that same-sex couples have the right to get married anywhere in the United States.
Daugaard said Friday that he and Attorney General Marty Jackley will examine what the court’s ruling means for state and local governments. Daugaard says he would have preferred legal same-sex marriage to come “through the democratic process, rather than the courts.”
Jackley says he’ll comment on the decision later Friday after having time to read it.
The South Dakota Department of Health, which is responsible for the vital records system currently used to issue marriage licenses, referred comment to the governor’s office.
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9:50 a.m.
A Sioux Falls man says he got a second marriage proposal from his partner following the news that same-sex marriage is now legal in the U.S.
Bob Weldland, 27, says his partner texted him at work, asking if he would “marry me again.” Weldland says he learned of the U.S. Supreme Court’s opinion from his partner and that it still feels very surreal.
He says the move is a “step in the right direction” but says same-sex couples still have an uphill fight.
Weldland and his partner consider themselves married under God. They plan to get married by “government standards” this summer. They were united in a Minnesota ceremony in 2010 before gay marriage was legal in that state.
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9:35 a.m.
Two plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging South Dakota’s gay marriage ban are celebrating the Supreme Court’s decision that same-sex couples nationwide have the right to marry.
Lynn and Monica Serling-Swank of Brandon call the decision “unbelievable.” Monica Serling-Swank said: “We finally won.”
Gay couples already can marry in 36 states and the District of Columbia. The ruling means the remaining 14 states will have to stop enforcing their bans on same-sex marriage.
The ruling doesn’t take effect immediately because the court gave the losing side about three weeks to ask for reconsideration. But states may start to issue marriage licenses sooner.
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9:30 a.m.
The attorney representing six same-sex couples in a lawsuit challenging South Dakota’s ban on gay marriage says he’s in disbelief over a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that declares state’s must issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
Minneapolis attorney Josh Newville says the ruling by the court is a “powerful, powerful opinion.”
Newville says he doesn’t anticipate any delay for U.S. District Judge Karen Schrier’s opinion to go into effect.
Newville, who is gay, says he’s overwhelmed. He hasn’t talked to his plaintiffs but says he can’t describe how happy they must be.
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