Texas Supreme Court Blocks Gay Marriages

Just hours after Austin’s first same-sex marriage took place on Thursday, the Texas Supreme Court issued an emergency order blocking other gay couples from obtaining marriage licenses. 

Although the high court did not specifically address the marriage license granted to the two women married yesterday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the high court’s orders meant their marriage license was void. 

“Texas law is clear on the definition of marriage, and I will fight to protect this sacred institution and uphold the will of Texans, who voted overwhelmingly in favor of a constitutional amendment defining the union as between one man and one woman,” Paxton said in a statement, adding that the probate judge’s “misguided ruling does not change Texas law or allow the issuance of a marriage license to anyone other than one man and one woman.”

See Lauren Raab and Molly Hennessy-Fiske, After One Gay Marriage, Texas Supreme Court Issues Order Blocking More, Los Angeles Times, Feb. 19, 2015.

Special thanks to Brian Cohan (Attorney at Law, Law Offices of Brian J. Cohan, P.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.