Additional marriage news today from around the US

It's been more than a week since a flurry of gay marriage developments began with the Supreme Court's denial of appeals from five states, allowing for expansion of marriage rights. Shortly afterward, a federal court in the West struck down bans in Idaho and Nevada. Recent developments on same-sex marriage around the country:

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North Carolina

A state magistrate in Pasquotank County could face disciplinary action after refusing to marry two men following the end of North Carolina's gay marriage ban. Magistrate Gary Littleton declined on Monday to perform the couple's civil ceremony, citing his religious views that marriage should be between one man and one woman. Littleton's position conflicts with orders issued by the state Administrative Office of the Courts that all judicial personnel accommodate same-sex couples just as they would heterosexual couples following last week's ruling by a federal judge striking down the prohibition. State courts spokeswoman Sharon Gladwell says she is not aware of any other magistrates who have refused to marry same-sex couples. Meanwhile, a federal judge has allowed Republican lawmakers to intervene in a pair of challenges to North Carolina's now-defunct gay marriage ban, potentially enabling them to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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Alaska

A magistrate in a remote town on Alaska's Arctic Coast where people are used to doing their own thing has performed what is believed to be the state's first gay marriage ceremony ahead of schedule after a federal judge struck down the state's ban. Couples lined up across the state to get licenses Monday morning, beginning the clock on a mandatory three-day wait until ceremonies could be performed. However, in Barrow, Kristine Hilderbrand said Magistrate Mary Treiber agreed to waive the wait requirement and married her and Sarah Ellis late Monday afternoon. Hilderbrand says gay marriage is not really an issue in Barrow. She says people in the community "accept you for who you are." Alaska helped touch off a national debate 15 years ago with a ban on same-sex unions.

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Idaho

Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter will not appeal the 9th Circuit Court of Appeal's most recent decision to lift the state's ban on gay marriage starting Wednesday. Otter said in a statement Tuesday that for now, the state has done all it can through the courts to defend traditional marriage in Idaho. This means same-sex couples may receive marriage licenses in Idaho starting at 9 a.m. Pacific time. Otter's announcement comes one day after Idaho attorney general Lawrence Wasden dropped his opposition to the stay.

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South Carolina

Attorneys have until next week to file motions in a lawsuit playing a key role in South Carolina's debate over the issuance of same-sex marriage licenses. U.S. District Judge Michelle Childs on Tuesday gave attorneys until Oct. 23 to file, with another three weeks for responses. Childs said she may hold a hearing in the case but not for several more weeks. Gay marriage appeared imminent last week until the state Supreme Court ruled that South Carolina must wait for Childs to rule in a case challenging the state constitution's gay marriage ban. That case is advancing again after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision not to hear an appeal of a ruling allowing same-sex marriage in Virginia by a federal appeals court that also has jurisdiction over South Carolina.

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The Gayly – October 14, 2014 @ 4:55pm