WV Attorney General Won't Defend Same-Sex Marriage Ban

zimmytws/iStockphoto/Thinkstock(CHARLESTON, W.Va.) — West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey issued a statement on Thursday saying that his office will honor the Supreme Court decision that struck down Virginia’s ban on same-sex marriage.

Earlier this week, the Supreme Court decided not to take up the decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, which deemed the Virginia law unconstitutional. “By refusing to consider the appeal, the Supreme Court has caused the Appeals Court’s decision to become final and binding on West Virginia,” Morrisey said.

“While we disagree with the Supreme Court’s decision to allow the Fourth Circuit’s opinion to stand and believe it improperly displaces state and local decision-making, we will respect it,” the West Virginia Attorney General said.

Before same-sex marriage licenses can be given to couples in the state, the State Registrar must alter marriage forms and the Secretary of State’s office must authorize marriage celebrants to solemnize marriages, according to Morrisey. “While we will take steps to seek to end the litigation,” he said, “the conclusion of the lawsuit cannot and will not along effectuate the Fourth Circuit’s mandate.”



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