Circuit Judge Lifts Stay On Same-Sex Marriage in Miami-Dade County 12 Hours Early

#flmarriage gay ban lifted in Miami-Dade @WPLGLocal10 pic.twitter.com/0dHzXSXENY
— Ross Palombo (@rosspalombo) January 5, 2015

The Miami Herald reports:

In an 11 a.m. hearing, Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel lifted the legal stay she had placed on her sweeping July decision declaring the ban discriminatory.

Clerk of Courts Harvey Ruvin said same-sex marriages would begin at 2 p.m. Elsewhere in Florida, most court clerks will start marrying gay couples Tuesday — some of them at 12:01 a.m. — following a federal judge’s order.

Several counties in conservative North Florida and the Tampa Bay area have stopped marrying people altogether, in part to avoid marrying same-sex couples.

In addition, Judge Zabel has agreed to marry the plaintiff couples today.

Congrats Florida!

UPDATE: The plaintiffs in the Miami-Dade lawsuit have their marriage license!

Miami-Dade plaintiff couple Melanie & Vanessa Alenier are holding their marriage license!! #FLmarriage pic.twitter.com/sc7PqGHPM8
— Equality Florida (@equalityfl) January 5, 2015

Here's the moment when Judge Zabel lifted the stay.

‎"Another day where the plaintiffs do not have equal rights is another day that shames our nation."

"I'm lifting the stay."