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LAS CRUCES — A New Mexico county clerk is asking Attorney General Gary King for a legal opinion on whether county clerks may issue licenses for same-sex marriages.
Dona County Clerk Lynn Ellis is making the request through a state legislator and says she’s ready to begin issuing licenses for same-sex marriages if the resulting opinion allows it.
Ellis announced her request Wednesday, a day after Santa Fe city officials said they believe New Mexico law allows county clerks to issue licenses for same-sex marriages.
The officials urged county clerks to start issuing same-sex marriage licenses.
A 2004 opinion by then-Attorney General Patricia Madrid declared that 64 licenses issue to same-sex couples by the Sandoval County clerk were invalid. A court later ordered the clerk to not issue licenses for same-sex marriages.
