The Supreme Court has decided to not hear the same-sex marriage cases from Utah and four other states, which will revert the states back to the district court rulings that legalized same-sex marriage.
Within a few hours, Utah received a mandate from the 10th district court of appeals, which ruled the third amendment same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional. Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill had instructed Salt Lake County to hold off issuing any new licenses until the official mandate has been received.
Governor Gary Herbert will hold a press conference at 11:30 a.m. to comment on the decision.
This brings the total number of states that recognize same-sex marriage to 24. SCOTUS also rejected the appeals from Virginia, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Indiana. The court did not comment on their decision to decline to hear the appeals.
UPDATE:
Gov. Herbert confirmed that all state agencies have been advised to perform all same-sex marriages, as well as accept applications for adoption from all legally married couples.
