MICHIGAN: Marriage Ruling Due

The ruling in Michigan's marriage equality trial is due to be issued and could come today or tomorrow.

Clerks in some of Michigan’s largest counties say they’re prepared to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples if a federal judge strikes down the state’s ban on gay marriage. But Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said if the judge rules in favor of gay marriage and the decision is appealed, the ban on issuing marriage licenses remains in effect. A decision could come any day from U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman. Macomb County Clerk Carmella Sabaugh said her office could begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses immediately. Approved applicants leave the county’s Clerk’s Office with marriage licenses, but under state law, they have to wait three days after getting approval before licenses are valid — unless a waiver is obtained. “We’ve taken some calls about it already,” she said. “We’re not doing anything special, but we’re ready and can handle whatever the decision is. “We don’t ask someone’s orientation on a concealed pistol license, birth certificate, death certificate, or voter registration,” Sabaugh said. “If liberty is expanded for marriage licenses, then we won’t ask on those, either.”

The state defended the ban in court, calling discredited researcher Mark Regnerus and other anti-gay "experts" as witnesses. Since the state will doubtlessly appeal the ruling to the Seventh Circuit Court, activists are hoping that the judge will not stay the ruling pending that appeal.