Louisiana's attorney general doesn't plan to allow gay marriage anytime soon
Louisiana Attorney General Buddy Caldwell will not immediately enforce the Supreme Court's decision to legalize same-sex marriage, stating Friday that his office "has found nothing in today's decision that makes the Court's order effective immediately."
Caldwell cited a 2004 vote to ban same-sex marriage in Louisiana's state constitution that passed "overwhelmingly" with 78% in favor as being in direct conflict with the Court's ruling on Obergefell vs. Hodges:
Caldwell is not alone in believing that the Supreme Court has overstepped its bounds in making this ruling. The 5-4 decision on Friday garnered impassioned dissent from justices Clarence Thomas and John Roberts, both of whom bemoaned the process by which the court reached its landmark decision.
"The Attorney General's Office will be watching for the Court to issue a mandate or order making today's decision final and effective and will issue a statement when that occurs," Caldwell's office said.
He said he plans to uphold the state's constitution until such a mandate is issued.
"I am extremely disappointed by this decision. It fails to respect traditional marriage as defined by Louisiana voters, and is yet another example of the federal government intrusion into what should be a state issue," Caldwell continued.
Meanwhile, Nola.com reports that "Louisiana Clerks of Court Association is advising parish and city clerks to wait until the 25-day period for states to file an appeal of the Supreme Court ruling overturning bans on same-sex marriage."
It isn't clear how states with constitutional bans on same-sex marriage could legally handle their greivances, but Louisiana is not the only one. Texas governor Greg Abbott issued a statement stressing that the "religious liberty" of Texans would be upheld no matter what. MsNewsNow reports that Mississippi will not yet honor the court's decision either.
So despite the historic ruling from the Supreme Court today, it seems that there are still hurdles to clear before the policy takes effect nationally.