Utah County Clerk's office to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples

Ultra-conservative Utah County Clerks will begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples today.

Nearly a week has gone by since most of the state County Clerks began to do so following a Federal District Court's ruling that banning marriage equality is unconstitutional.

Via Daily Herald:

"On Tuesday afternoon, December 24^th, the 10^th Circuit of Appeals denied the motion to stay the ruling by Judge Robert Shelby that Utah’s same sex marriage ban is unconstitutional. Based upon that motion and upon receipt of the further clarifications I was seeking; the Utah County Clerk’s Office will issue marriage licenses to all eligible applicants."

The state sought a stay on the ruling from both District Judge Shelby and then the Tenth Circuit of Appeals. Both denied the stay.

Word is the state will now reach out to SCOTUS for a stay, although the Utah AG's office has indicated this will take several days. The request would go to Justice Sonia Sotomayor. Considering two courts have said "no" and SCOTUS usually leaves marriage as a states rights issue, chances are slim for a stay to be issued from the high court. But it could happen.

Stay tuned.

UPDATE: According to reports,  all Utah County Clerks offices, including those who had resisted issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, are now  allowing LGBT couples to receive marriage licenses.

The Utah attorney general's office had said counties could be held in contempt of federal court if they refused to comply.