A district judge has ordered Los Alamos County to issue a same-sex marriage license to residents Janet Newton and Maria Thibodeau Thursday.
Newton and Thibodeau filed a complaint in district court Wednesday after being denied a license by county clerk Sharon Stover on Tuesday.
“As I understand, she (county clerk Sharon Stover) told our clients that she had no authority to issue a marriage license,” said Kate Ferlic, whose firm is representing Newton and Thibodeau. “Our clients said it was legal in six counties and they would like to get married in their home county.”
According to the suit filed in First Judicial Court, Newton and Thibodeau asked for a writ of mandamus or court order requiring the clerk to issue them a marriage license.
District judge Shari Raphaelson signed that order Wednesday.
And as of Wednesday night, Stover said that county attorney Rebecca Ehler has the complaint but has not yet seen the writ.
Before the order was signed by the judge, Stover was asked what she would do.
“I need to see what the suit says and see what our county attorney says,” Stover said. “The way the law is, this needs to get fixed.”
Stover hopes some help is on the way.