Counties Ask NM High Court to Decide Gay Marriage
A group representing New Mexico counties is asking the state's highest court to decide whether gay marriage is legal.
The Association of Counties and clerks statewide filed a petition Thursday with the state Supreme Court. They're seeking clarity in a legal dispute that's been rapidly changing in the past two weeks since a county clerk in southern New Mexico independently began issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples.
Since then, seven other counties followed - some because of court orders.
More than 900 marriage licenses have been granted to same-sex couples in the state.
The Supreme Court was asked to temporarily halt pending lawsuits on gay marriage until the justices make a decision on the issue.
It remains uncertain whether the high court will accept the case.