FLORIDA: Attorney General Pam Bondi Reacts To Ruling In Typical Fashion

"This office has sought to minimize confusion and uncertainty, and we are glad the Court has provided additional guidance. My office will not stand in the way as clerks of court determine how to proceed." - Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, is a statement issued tonight in reaction to the ruling issued today by federal Judge Robert Hinkle.

Bondi's statement is drawing fire:

"She’s saying look, ‘Judge Hinkle did not tell the clerks that they are required to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, however, he told them that they may issue marriage licenses’ and she’s not going to stand in their way of whatever independent decisions they may make,” said David Weinstein, a former assistant Miami-Dade state attorney and assistant U.S. attorney, now in private practice and not involved in the case. [ACLU of FL head Howard] Simon’s response to Bondi: “She is not serving the state of Florida and causing precisely the kind of chaos that this judge has tried to prevent with today’s order. This is the low point in a the performance of an attorney general. Her willful misreading of Hinkle’s order is creating confusion.”

The legal association for Florida's county clerks, which started this entire mess, has retracted their earlier warning.

“Judge Hinkle’s order states that any clerk refusing to issue a license could be subject to civil damages and liability for the plaintiffs’ fees and costs,” Bass said. “Greenberg Traurig has advised the Florida Association of Court Clerks and Comptrollers that clerks should follow the judge’s ruling for all marriage-license applications or face the consequences identified by Judge Hinkle.” Broward County Clerk Howard Forman said his office will meet first thing Friday morning “to implement the order.” “It was pretty plain,” Forman said about Hinkle’s ruling, adding that the Broward Clerk’s office will announce Friday whether it will open at 12:01 a.m. Tuesday to issue marriage licenses in Fort Lauderdale.