© 2024 Kansas City Public Radio
NPR in Kansas City
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Johnson County Judge Orders Clerks To Issue Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

Wikipedia -- Creative Commons

The chief judge of the 10th Judicial District in Johnson County, Kan., has ordered clerks to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. 

"In the interest of justice and to avoid the uncertainty that has arisen in light of recent federal court rulings about the constitutionality of state constitutional and/or statutory prohibitions against marriage by same-sex individuals," Chief Judge Kevin P. Moriarty wrote in a ruling issued late Wednesday afternoon, "the clerk of the district court is hereby directed to issue marriage licenses to all individuals, including same-sex individuals, provided they are otherwise qualified to marry."

Moriarty cited recent decisions by the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals that prohibits against same-sex marriage in Colorado, Oklahoma and Utah were unconstitutional. The 10th Circuit also includes Kansas, New Mexico and Wyoming.

Doug Bonney, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas, applauded Moriarty's ruling.

"It means that marriage is for everybody in Johnson County. And that's a great thing," Bonney said.

A free press is among our country’s founding principles and most precious resources. As director of content-journalism at KCUR, I want everyone in our part of America to know we see them and we’re listening. I work to make sure the stories we tell and the conversations we convene reflect our complex realities, informing and inspiring all of us to meet the profound challenges of our time. Email me at cj@kcur.org.
KCUR serves the Kansas City region with breaking news and award-winning podcasts.
Your donation helps keep nonprofit journalism free and available for everyone.