Less than 24 hours after Federal Judge Bernard Friedman ruled that the ban against same-sex marriage to be unconstitutional, a stay was issued by the 6th Circuit Court of appeals in Cincinnati.
This Order follows immediately after approximately 300 same-sex marriages were performed in four Michigan counties.
As of Wednesday, Governor Rick Snyder issued a public statement in regards to the authenticity of the same-sex marriages that were performed after Judge Friedman’s decision and prior to the issuance of the stay.
“After comprehensive legal review of state law and all recent court rulings, we have concluded that same-sex couples were legally married at county clerk offices in the time period between U.S. District Judge Freidman’s ruling and the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals temporary stay of that ruling.”
Snyder then went on to say, “In accordance with the law, the U.S. Circuit Court’s stay has the effect of suspending the benefits of marriage until further court rulings are issued on this matter. The couples with certificates of marriage from Michigan courthouses last Saturday were legally married and the marriage was valid when entered into. Because the stay brings Michigan law on this issue back into effect, the rights tied to these marriages are suspended until the stay is lifted or Judge Friedman’s decision is upheld on appeal.”
Further appellate proceedings will commence this summer.
