CHICAGO (AP) - The Cook County clerk’s office says nearly 50 same-sex couples received marriage licenses after a judge gave the OK.
U.S. District Judge Sharon Johnson Coleman on Friday ruled that Illinois’ original ban on same-sex marriage was unconstitutional. That means even though a state law legalizing same-sex marriage takes effect on June 1, there’s nothing to stop couples from marrying now.
The ruling applies only to Cook County, where Chicago is located, because the lawsuit was filed against County Clerk David Orr.
The clerk called Friday an “exhilarating day” not because of Coleman’s ruling, but because of the great outpouring of pure joy observed on the part of license applicants.
Any couple who gets a marriage license must wait a day to be married. Licenses are good for 60 days.
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