Judge: No Gay ‘Marriage’ in Texas Pending Appeals Court Ruling
San Antonio, TX, December 12, 2014 – Federal Judge Orlando Garcia, who earlier this year (February) struck down Texas’ marriage laws, has rejected a request by the homosexual plaintiffs to immediately begin forcing same-sex marriage on the state of Texas and Texas county clerks. Judge Garcia immediately “stayed” his own decision in February, putting on hold any change in Texas marriage laws. His decision to keep his stay in place ensures that Texas marriage laws will continue to be enforced in Texas pending a ruling from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. Homosexual activists have been pressuring Judge Garcia for weeks to lift this stay, a rogue action that would have led to some activist county clerks issuing gay ‘marriage’ licenses in Texas before Attorney General Greg Abbott could ask the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to stop the lawless act. According to media reports, county clerks in Dallas, Bexar, and Travis counties had already indicated they were prepared to immediately begin issuing the licenses.
Texas Values President and Attorney Jonathan Saenz issued the following statement on the decision:
“This ruling that gay marriage licenses will not be granted in Texas should close the door on all the baseless chatter by county clerks with a political agenda who think they are above the law. It is very clear that any decisions related to Texas marriage laws are now under the sole jurisdiction of the Federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. San Antonio Judge Orlando Garcia no longer has authority to rule on these matters. Numerous experts believe the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals will uphold Texas Marriage laws so it’s best that our marriage laws continue to be left undisturbed.”
Mr. Saenz will attend the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals oral argument on this case on January 9th. Judge Garcia’s decision stated that lifting his stay “…would only be temporary, with confusion and doubt to follow.” For now, Texas marriage laws will continue to be enforced.
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