A marriage ceremony outside Madison’s City County Building. (File Photo: WRN)
The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an appeal in a case challenging Wisconsin’s gay marriage ban, clearing the way for same sex couples in the state to once again wed.
The court turned down a request to hear arguments on an appeals court decision from last month, which upheld a previous court ruling from August that overturned the 2006 state constitutional amendment banning same sex marriage. The court also rejected similar appeals from Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, and Virginia.
Justices offered no comment on their decision, but the order immediately ends stays on court decisions in those states that have kept same sex marriages on hold.
In statement, Department of Justice spokeswoman Dana Brueck said “The Department, having made every effort to fulfill its duty to defend the state constitution, will now work with its state agency clients to implement the order.”
Dane County Clerk Scott McDonnell, one of the first clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses to couples after the August decision, said in a statement “Based on the Supreme Court’s denial of Cert and advise of the Dane County Corporation Counsel’s office, my office will again be issuing same sex marriage licenses today. Our hours will be the normal 8 to 4pm for licenses.”