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Saturday, August 28, 2004

Oregon county will resume issuing marriage licenses

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- The Benton County Board of Commissioners complied with a judge's ruling to resume issuing marriage licenses to heterosexual couples.

Commissioners Jay Dixon, Annabelle Jaramillo and Linda Modrell voted unanimously Thursday to follow the order. In deciding a lawsuit filed by a heterosexual couple, Judge Wayne Harris ruled Wednesday that the county had failed its duty to provide residents with a service.

If the board ignored the ruling, it could have been found in contempt, which might have resulted in fines, jail time or both for the county clerk and all three commissioners, County Counsel Vance Croney said.

In March, the commissioners decided that same-sex couples should have the same right to marry as heterosexual couples. But the state warned the county not to issue licenses to same-sex couples.

In an effort to treat all couples equally, the board decided to stop issuing all licenses until the state Supreme Court had a chance to review the law prohibiting gay marriage.

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