May 15, 2008 2:00 PM
NEWS RELEASE
CONTACT: JOHN TUTEUR, ASSESSOR-RECORDER-COUNTY CLERK 707.253.4459
jtuteur@co.napa.ca.us
SUPREME COURT RULING ON SAME GENDER MARRIAGE
The California Supreme Court declared current statutes that restrict marriage to one man and one woman unconstitutional and said that the remedy is to allow same gender persons to marry. The court will issue a writ of mandate directing appropriate state officials (probably the California Office of Vital Records of the State Department of Public Health) to take all actions necessary to ensure that county clerks and other local officials throughout the state, in performing their duty to enforce the marriage statutes in their jurisdictions, apply those provisions in a manner consistent with the decision of this court.
“Pursuant to the court’s ruling I am waiting to receive direction from the California Office of Vital Records on implementing this decision,” said John Tuteur in his capacity as Napa County Clerk and Commissioner of Civil Marriages. “As soon as those directives are received, we look forward to issuing marriage licenses to and performing ceremonies for same gender couples.” Tuteur will keep the community informed of the state’s progress in implementing the court’s decision.
Tuteur is compiling an e-mail list of persons wishing to be informed of the availability of licenses for same gender couples once the new process is in place. “Persons wishing to be notified of the availability of same gender licenses should send their e-mail address to jtuteur@co.napa.ca.us,” Tuteur said.
