Miscellaneous

Clerks May Say I Don't to Gay Weddings

By Anne Skove, Esq.

Can court employees who have some type of conscientious objection to same-sex marriages opt out of doing the work related to the process?

Yes, says the San Diego County clerk, who will give employees that option. It's not clear how those saddled with the extra work (and it will be a **lot** of work, we'd love to hear from a court regarding plans to deal with the rush) feel.

Thus far, though, no employee has accepted the offer. Maybe they're waiting to see whether the weddings will be tabled until after a November vote. Sort of like waiting until after the SCOTUS decided the legality of lethal injection before executing anyone. Do any court employees have moral and/or religious objections to capital punishment? If so, are they able to opt out? The train of thought travels on...

See San Diego County Workers May Be Excused from Same-Sex Weddings, Randy Hope, Gay and Lesbian Times (May 29, 2008).

Full post as published by court-o-rama.org on May 29, 2008 (boomark / email).