State attorney’s office will NOT prosecute clerks for issuing marriage licenses

Orange and Osceola Counties State Attorney Jeff Ashton has announced his office will NOT prosecute Clerks of Court who issue marriage licenses Jan. 6, 2015.

Here is the release, in it’s entirety: 

State Attorney Jeffrey L. Ashton informed the Clerks of Courts in Orange and Osceola counties today that his office will not prosecute them for issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples when the ban is lifted on January 6th.

The concern over arrest stems from the attorneys who advise the Florida Clerks and Comptrollers Association, who have stated twice that clerks outside of Washington County can face criminal prosecution if they issue licenses Jan. 6.

This despite a ruling by federal Judge Robert Hinkle, who declared Florida’s ban on gay marriage unconstitutional and said same-sex marriage licenses could start being issued in the state after Jan. 5 unless the Supreme Court intervened. The Supreme Court said Dec. 19 it would not stand in the way.

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