The Orange County Clerk’s office is not issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples now but will soon. The U.S. Supreme Court Friday morning issued a ruling that states could not prohibit same-sex marriages. Texas was the largest of the 14 states that did not have legal same-sex marriage.
County Clerk Brandy Robertson issued a statement saying “It is our intent to treat Orange County citizens fairly and to follow the law.”
Robertson is on vacation this week. Friday morning after the court decision was issued, Chief Deputy Clerk Tiffany Schlicher said the marriage forms the office now has does not allow for same sexes.
Assistant County Attorney Doug Manning said late Friday morning that his office is reading the decision and working with the county clerk’s office. “Obviously we’re required to follow the law. It’s always our intent to follow the law,” he said.
Robertson in her statement said that her office is working with the State of Texas and the Orange County Attorney’s Office to ensure the law is followed. “Bear with us as we take steps to ensure that we do that correctly,” she said.
County clerk offices in larger counties like Travis, Harris and Dallas began issuing same-sex marriage licenses soon after the Supreme Court was issued. Orange is not the only county dealing with the change. The Denton County Clerk’s Office turned down a couple Friday because of not having the correct paperwork. Locally, the Jefferson, Newton, Hardin and Jasper county clerks issued statements saying they could not issue same-sex licenses immediately.
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