Illinois' Attorney General is telling county clerks they have the right to immediately issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Lisa Madigan issued the guidance Tuesday in response to a question from the Macon County Clerk.
A state law legalizing same-sex marriage takes effect June 1st. But a federal judge in Chicago recently ruled that Illinois' original ban was unconstitutional. That means there's nothing to stop couples from marrying now.
But the court said the ruling only applied to Cook County. However, Madigan says because the current restrictions have been deemed unconstitutional, same sex couples asking for a marriage license in any county can be given one.