The New Mexico Supreme Court said on Thursday that the state must recognize same=sex marriage after eight counties issued marriage licenses earlier this year. Because the New Mexico constitution did not explicitly prohibit or permit same-sex marriage, counties began issuing the license independently under their own authority.
County clerks asked the state’s supreme court to rule on whether same-sex marriage was legal in New New Mexico in order to set a uniform state policy, according to USA Today.
The court’s ruling makes New Mexico the 17th state to allow same-sex marriage, and the seventh in the last year.
Ed Whealen has more on the ruling over on Bench Memos.