Breaking: Federal Judge Rules Clerks Cannot Cite Religion to Recuse From Issuing Marriage Licenses

Huge, Potentially Precedent-Setting Decision 

A federal judge has judge clerks in Mississippi cannot cite their religious beliefs as valid reasons to recuse themselves from granting marriage licenses to same-sex couples. The case was argued by Roberta Kaplan, who won the historic Supreme Court DOMA case.

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeve ruled Monday afternoon, preventing the State of Mississippi from allowing HB 1523, a so-called “religious freedom” law signed by Republican Governor Phil Bryant from taking effect Friday, the AP reports.

Kaplan, who is representing the Campaign for Southern Equality, argued HB 1523 violates First Amendment separation of church and state. She told CSE after today’s ruling, “Judge Reeves reaffirmed the authority of federal courts to say what the United States Constitution means.”

UPDATE I:
Equality Case Files has the order:

And Roberta Kaplan posted this tweet — more to come!

UPDATE II: 6:38 PM EDT –

A few tweets from the Campaign for Southern Equality:

 

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Image by Blake Feldman via Twitter