Local Clerk's offices swamped with Marriage License requests

The 5 to 4 Supreme Court ruling sent many same sex couples running to county clerk's offices to get a marriage license. It's estimated by the end of the day more than 200 licenses will have been issued by the Travis County Clerk.

It looked like a wedding processional, but it also was history in motion.

Cindy Stocking and Lupe Garcia lead the way into the Travis County Clerk's office about an hour after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. But because of a typo, Charlotte Rutherford and Gena Dawson, were the first to complete the process and walk out with a license.

"It makes me feel relieved, and I can stop worrying about this, I've thought about it, worried about it, for a long time," said Rutherford.

Stocking and Garcia still considered themselves to be winners regardless who walked out first.

"It was exciting for us, am so happy it happened within our life time, and to be a part of history is an amazing thing," said Stocking.

For the others who followed like Marty Bier and Sanaz Faily, the county document they obtained Friday is more than a simple piece of paper.

"It's like the real thing ... It affirms what we know in our heart, and finally the state of Texas has caught up, so ... The whole united states ... The whole united states has caught up," said Faily.

As the celebration continued at the clerk's office several conservative state leaders issued statements that condemned and question the ruling. Former governor and presidential candidate Rick Perry stated, "I'm a firm believer in traditional marriage, and I also believe the 10th amendment leaves it to each state to decide this issue."

Governor Greg Abbott echoed that stating:

"No Texan is required by the Supreme Court's decision to act contrary to his or her religious beliefs regarding marriage."

And Attorney General Ken Paxton who said; "the next fight is religious liberty." was asked by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick for an opinion. Patrick wants to know if a county employee could refuse issuing a licensee to a same sex couple based on personal beliefs.

When asked about that County Attorney David Escamilla, who cleared the process for Travis County clerks, said the oath of office requires clerks to obey the ruling.

"The supreme court is very clear on what our duties are in this case, so my opinion would be, they need to do their duty," said Escamilla.

For the couples and their supporters- at the clerk's office- the matter is settled and sealed with a county stamp.

The Travis County Clerk's office will have extended hours next week. Employees have also decided to work through the July 4th holiday weekend to help process couples wanting a marriage license.