Court Orders PA County To Stop Issuing Same-Sex Marriage Licenses

They jumped the gun on the law, says the judge

HARRISBURG — Until the Legislature or courts overturn Pennsylvania's ban on same-sex marriages, local officials must comply with its provisions, a judge ruled Thursday in a Montgomery County case.

Commonwealth Court Judge Dan Pellegrini, a former Pittsburgh solicitor, ruled that Register of Wills D. Bruce Hanes must stop issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples. The state law defines marriage as a union between "one man and one woman."

Hanes' actions clearly violated his legal authority, the judge said.