CULLMAN – Though the Supreme Court’s decision for every state to award marriage licenses to same-sex couples was announced last Friday, Cullman, along with all of Alabama, was unable to issue licenses until this Monday, when an injunction barring the issuing of marriage licenses to same-sex couples was lifted.
Cullman Probate Judge Tammy Brown had not issued marriage licenses to any same-sex couples as of Monday.
“We will be issuing marriage licenses to all couples, both same-sex and traditional,” Brown said on Monday.
Obtaining a marriage license is the same as it has been, with the fee remaining $41 for the license itself.
When the Supreme Court issued its decision on June 26, Brown and her colleagues had a choice to make: they could conform to the ruling or fight it.
“I don’t want to put Cullman County through any more litigation,” Brown said. “We decided the best decision was to just go along with what the Supreme Court of the United States laid down.” Brown said that she arrived at this decision with her colleagues, although she said it was a “very complicated decision.”
Brown and those working in her office have decided to approach this as any other part of their job.
“It’s our job to issue licenses, that includes marriage licenses,” Brown said.
With that, Brown and those in her office are moving forward with their jobs.
