ALASKA: What Will Happen Today?

On Wednesday the Ninth Circuit Court Of Appeals issued a temporary stay on marriages in Alaska, which were to have begun yesterday. Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell yesterday filed an emergency stay request with SCOTUS. The Ninth Circuit's stay automatically dissolves at noon, Pacific time. If SCOTUS does nothing or denies the stay request, marriages can commence this afternoon. At least, that's where things appear to stand at this writing. At least two Alaska couples have already married due to clerks waiving the three-day waiting period.

UPDATE: JMG reader Baltimatt points out that today is Alaska Day, a state holiday. With government offices closed, it could be that gay couples will be out of luck today even if the stay ends. Alaska Day marks the 1867 anniversary of Alaska leaving Russia.