The Boulder County Clerk's Office in Colorado has begun issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples after a federal appeals court ruled that Utah cannot prevent gay couples from marrying.
Though the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against Utah on Wednesday, giving the state now two losses in court, they suspended their ruling pending an expected appeal from the state attorney general, moving the case closer to the Supreme Court.
Despite the stay, the Boulder County Clerk's Office decided to start issuing marriage licenses to gay couples who showed up, KWGN reports.
The 10th Circuit ruling affects six states, with Colorado included and county clerk Hillary Hall believes that though the court opted to suspend the ruling, that only impacts Utah and not the other states.
State Attorney General John Suthers though, has warned that any marriage licenses issued will not be valid since the decision was stayed. "Any marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples in Colorado before a final court resolution are invalid."
Hall, however, is willing to keep issuing licenses until Suthers sues to stop her. "We feel the law is behind us on it, so whatever happens, we'll be ready to defend it," Hall said. "This is the right decision."