California Says Marriages Can Start June 17

California counties can issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples beginning June 17, the state said in a directive issued Wednesday. The state Office of Vital Records said it chose June 17 because the state Supreme Court has until the close of business on June 16 to decide whether to grant a stay of its May 15 ruling legalizing same-sex marriage.

Gay rights advocates and some clerks initially thought couples would be able to wed as early as Saturday, June 14 — exactly 30 days after the court's ruling, but a group opposed to marriage equality has asked the court to stay its decision until after the November election. Voters are likely to face a ballot initiative that would once again define marriage as a union between a man and a woman to overrule the Supreme Court.

Under the Supreme Court's regular rules of procedure, justices have until the end of the day on June 16 to rule on the stay request. Lawyers involved in the marriage case have said previously the court could grant itself an extra 60 days to consider the stay.

Source: Associated Press
*