Same-sex couples in Idaho can start getting married and have those marriages legally recognized by the state starting Wednesday morning, according to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
Judges say their ruling in favor of gay marriage takes effect at 9 a.m. PST this Wednesday. In court briefs, Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden concluded further attempts keep gay marriage on hold would likely be unsuccessful in light of the Supreme Court’s recent decision not to consider cases involving bans in other states.
This final round in court follows a week of legal back and forth during which at least seven couples in Moscow, Idaho and one couple in Twin Falls received marriage licenses amid the confusion. Idaho Gov. Butch Otter sought Supreme Court intervention last week after the 9th Circuit ruled Idaho’s voter-passed gay marriage ban is unconstitutional.
However, Idaho’s attorney general leaves the door open to future appeals. He says the state still holds its position that Idaho’s law is valid. In a separate letter, Otter argued the court should keep gay marriage on hold while he asks a larger panel of judges to reconsider the case.
