BREAKING: Arkansas State Supreme Court DENIES Marriage Stay Request

Via the Associated Press:

The Arkansas Supreme Court has rejected the state attorney general’s request for a stay of a judge’s ruling that overturned Arkansas’ constitutional ban on gay marriage. The high court on Wednesday turned down the request from Attorney General Dustin McDaniel that would have halted the issuance of same-sex marriage licenses. Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza had ruled last week that a voter-approved gay marriage ban was unconstitutional, but didn’t issue a stay. A few counties began issuing marriage licenses, and by midweek about 450 couples had gotten them. The vast majority of the state’s counties refused to grant licenses, saying the Supreme Court needed to weigh in. McDaniel said a stay was necessary because clerks did not know whether they were obligated to issue licenses.

Story developing...

Read the full ruling.

UPDATE: Chris Geidner points out something important at Buzzfeed: "Notably, the court — while denying the stay — also states that the current order by Circuit Court Judge Christopher Piazza has 'no effect' on the state law that bars clerks from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Plaintiffs have argued that Piazza’s failure to mention the statute in his order was 'an oversight' that they expect to get resolved."

UPDATE II: More messy details from the Arkansas Times.

Marriage equality remains the law of the land in Arkansas, but the court injected a wrinkle that will give counties cover to continue to refuse marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The court noted that Piazza's ruling didn't mention a statute that prohibits clerks from issuing marriage licenses to same sex couples. Action will now shift to Piazza's court to pursue final orders, injunctive relief and a cleanup on the omitted statute. Said Jack Wagoner, attorney for the plaintffs: "We'll fix that tomorrow and be back here again. How can you order find something unconstitutional but not affect a statute that would require the clerks to do something unconstitutional?"