MONROE - One same-sex couple has received a marriage license in Green County and another couple in Lafayette County was denied following a federal judge's decision to declare the state's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional.
Scott Rippe and Scott Shaver received their license on Monday, despite some uncertainty surrounding U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb's ruling on Friday. Crabb declared the ban unconstitutional but added that she wanted the American Civil Liberties Union to give specific examples of what they want blocked in the gay marriage law. The ACLU filed a lawsuit against the ban in January on behalf of eight gay couples.
Lafayette County Clerk Linda Bawden said she had to turn down the gay couple who applied for the marriage license because she's "still waiting for actual directions."
"As soon as I have a definite answer I will be more than happy to do them (sign licenses)," she said.
Bawden said she also didn't want to issue a license only to have it revoked if Crabb's decision is appealed.
As of Tuesday there were 49 counties in Wisconsin issuing licenses. Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen requested an emergency stay until the ACLU can respond to Crabb's questions. Crabb said Monday that she will not act on Van Hollen's request for stay and gave the ACLU until June 16 to respond. Van Hollen has also appealed Crabb's decision to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals asking for a stay.
Green County Clerk Mike Doyle said he signed Rippe and Shaver's marriage license Monday but checked a box under the five-day waiting period citing "other circumstances" pending federal "legal determination." Doyle said he is following what the courts ordered despite there being so much gray area in Crabb's decision.
"I just felt that I don't have the legal authority to turn someone away," Doyle said. "I'll treat it the same as any other marriage license."
Doyle said since the state's largest cities were admitting licenses, it would be hard to say no to someone. Hundreds of couples were married over the weekend in Milwaukee and Madison.
Rippe and Shaver could not be reached for comment. The couple's marriage license shows they live in New Glarus, though neither are originally from Wisconsin. Shaver is from Minnesota and Rippe is from Iowa.
-The Associated Press
contributed to this article.
Scott Rippe and Scott Shaver received their license on Monday, despite some uncertainty surrounding U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb's ruling on Friday. Crabb declared the ban unconstitutional but added that she wanted the American Civil Liberties Union to give specific examples of what they want blocked in the gay marriage law. The ACLU filed a lawsuit against the ban in January on behalf of eight gay couples.
Lafayette County Clerk Linda Bawden said she had to turn down the gay couple who applied for the marriage license because she's "still waiting for actual directions."
"As soon as I have a definite answer I will be more than happy to do them (sign licenses)," she said.
Bawden said she also didn't want to issue a license only to have it revoked if Crabb's decision is appealed.
As of Tuesday there were 49 counties in Wisconsin issuing licenses. Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen requested an emergency stay until the ACLU can respond to Crabb's questions. Crabb said Monday that she will not act on Van Hollen's request for stay and gave the ACLU until June 16 to respond. Van Hollen has also appealed Crabb's decision to the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals asking for a stay.
Green County Clerk Mike Doyle said he signed Rippe and Shaver's marriage license Monday but checked a box under the five-day waiting period citing "other circumstances" pending federal "legal determination." Doyle said he is following what the courts ordered despite there being so much gray area in Crabb's decision.
"I just felt that I don't have the legal authority to turn someone away," Doyle said. "I'll treat it the same as any other marriage license."
Doyle said since the state's largest cities were admitting licenses, it would be hard to say no to someone. Hundreds of couples were married over the weekend in Milwaukee and Madison.
Rippe and Shaver could not be reached for comment. The couple's marriage license shows they live in New Glarus, though neither are originally from Wisconsin. Shaver is from Minnesota and Rippe is from Iowa.
-The Associated Press
contributed to this article.