Calif. to once again allow same-sex marriages

WASHINGTON, June 26 (UPI) -- Officials say same-sex marriage will resume in California following a ruling in the U.S. Supreme Court Wednesday, but will require further federal court action.

The Supreme Court, in a 5-4 ruling, said challengers to a federal court ruling striking down Proposition 8, which limited marriage to a man and a woman, did not have "standing" -- they could not show they suffered injury from a federal judge's injunction against the law. The high court majority dismissed the challenge, leaving the lower court order in place.

In a letter to the state's counties, Tony Agurto -- assistant deputy director for health information and strategic planning in the State Registrar's Office -- said state Attorney General Kamala Harris had advised the registrar's office the judge's injunction against Prop 8's implementation now applies statewide.

"The effect of the district court's injunction is that same-sex couples will once again be allowed to marry in California," Agurto's letter to county offices said. "But they will not be able to marry until the Ninth Circuit [Court of Appeals] issues a further order dissolving a stay of the injunction that has been in place throughout the appeal process."

Agurto said that should take about a month or more.

The appeals court affirmed the judge's action, but stayed its effects until the case was resolved in the Supreme Court.

Agurto said county clerks and recorders should not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples until the appeals court acts.