With the U.S. Supreme Court set to rule any day now on whether same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marriage, Fulton County is preparing to handle a potential crush of couples eager to say “I do” on decision day.
Thirteen judges have told Fulton County Probate Court they are willing to perform ceremonies as needed that day if the high court ruling overturns Georgia’s ban on gay marriage.
“We don’t know what to expect,” said James Brock, the county’s probate clerk. “There might be a lot of people who want to get married that day.”
For decision-day nuptials, the court has been offered the use of Fulton County Government Center Assembly Hall, which holds several hundred people and is conveniently located across the street from Fulton County Courthouse.
According to Georgia Equality, an LGBT advocacy group, State Court Judge Jane Morrison will be one of the judges performing marriages in Assembly Hall beginning at 1 p.m. on the day of the ruling. Morrison is one of the state’s first openly gay judges. The judges will be available from 1-4 p.m. for couples who wish to be among the first to marry in Georgia.
Brock said several couples have expressed interest in being wed on the day of a pro-gay decision. But which couple would be the first to get hitched?
“Whoever happens to be the first people in the door are the first people in the door,” Brock said.
Fulton County Commission Chairman John Eaves said some commissioners have plans to add a few extra touches — nothing costly — to celebrate the occasion. Does that mean balloons? Confetti? Cake? The chairman wouldn’t provide specifics.
“We want to make this historic movement as pleasant as possible,” he said.
Fulton County Probate Court has already changed its marriage license application forms to be gender neutral, although the court won’t use them unless the state’s ban on gay marriage is overturned.
Instead of the words “bride” and “groom,” the gender-neutral forms will refer to “applicant one” and “applicant two.”
Eaves said the county has been preparing for the Supreme Court ruling for several weeks.
“The county has been on the forefront of being receptive to the LGBT community,” he said.
Earlier this month, Fulton County commissioners passed a resolution urging courts to prepare for the legal recognition of same-sex couples. Eaves co-sponsored the resolution with District 4 Commissioner Joan Garner, who is also Morrison’s partner.
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