Same-Sex Marriage in Iowa Suspended

Yesterday on this blog, I reported on the Iowa District Court for Polk County opinion of Varnum v. Brien which held that the Iowa law prohibiting individuals of the same sex from marrying violates “due process and equal protection rights.”

Same-sex couples flocked to Des Moines to get married.  However, most were disappointed because the same judge, Robert B. Hanson, delayed granting licenses until the Iowa Supreme court decides whether to hear an appeal of his opinion.

In the “gap” period, however, one fast-acting couple, Timothy McQuillan and Sean Fritz, were able to obtain a marriage license and successfully get married.

See Monica Davey, Iowa Permits Same-Sex Marriage, for 4 Hours, Anyway, NY Times, Aug. 31, 2007.