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Report: Judge strikes down Colorado’s ban on same-sex marriage, state officials say they won’t fight to defend ban

Posted at 4:28 PM, Jul 09, 2014
and last updated 2014-07-09 18:28:13-04

DENVER – A judge in Adams County Colorado reportedly ruled Colorado’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional Wednesday.

FOX 13 News Sister station KDVR FOX 31 in Denver reports District Judge C. Scott Crabtree ruled that arguments in favor of the state’s ban regarding “protection of families” and “procreation of children” are “recently fabricated” arguments put in place to avoid the appearance of discrimination.

FOX 31 Reports Crabtree wrote: “It is merely a pretext for discriminating against same-sex marriages.”

Crabtree stayed the ruling, which may go to the Colorado Supreme Court on an appeal.

A county clerk in Boulder County began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples after a 10th Circuit Court ruled against Utah’s same-sex marriage ban. Utah officials announced Wednesdaythey intend to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Colorado’s Attorney General, John Suthers, moved to stop that clerk from issuing licenses, but he and Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper reportedly agree that the state won’t fight to defend its gay marriage ban but say county clerks should wait until the issue is resolved by a higher court before issuing licenses.

Click here for more on this story from FOX 31, including the full ruling from the judge.