Florida: Anti-Same Sex Marriage Lawsuits Filed

Florida Family Action (FFA) announced the filing of two lawsuits against three elected officials in Central Florida who have made clear public statements of their intentions to defy Florida law and either issue same-sex marriage licenses or officiate over same-sex marriage ceremonies on or after January 6, 2015.

Florida Family Action is being represented by Liberty Counsel a leading constitutional advocacy group in the lawsuits which are filed in the Ninth Judicial Circuit Court of Florida covering Orange and Osceola counties.  One lawsuit was filed against Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Ninth Judicial Circuit Court Judge Bob LeBlanc, and a separate second lawsuit against Osceola County Clerk of Court Armando Ramirez.

Local Fox News WOFL has reported that Osceola County Clerk of the Court Armando Ramirez claimed at midnight on January 6, he will open the courthouse for same-sex couples wanting to apply for a license.  Specifically, Ramirez said, “I will open the office for 2 hours as a symbolic jester [sic] to the gay community … to be able to be legally married.”  “We won’t waste any time.”  The taxpayer funded official website for the Osceola Clerk also announces the same indicating, “The Clerk’s office is proud to support marriage equality.”

The Orlando Sentinel reported that Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer will “officiate” at a mass same-sex marriage ceremony on Tuesday morning January 6, 2015.  The Metropolitan Business Association newsletter, a chamber of commerce of sorts for gay-identified persons, announced the “Vowed and Proud” event involving Dyer was “in partnership with the City of Orlando.”

WFTV Eyewitness News quotes Circuit Judge Bob LeBlanc as saying, “I am prepared to officiate the ceremony…If the clerk issues the licenses I am prepared to carry out the ceremony.”  Notices indicate LeBlanc will officiate over some “mass” marriage ceremony on the evening of January 6, 2015.

John Stemberger, president of the Florida Family Action organization issued the following statement regarding the lawsuits:

“All three of these officials have shown great contempt and disrespect for the rule of law and are behaving irresponsibly and unprofessionally.  The federal court decision is clear that it only applies narrowly to the two plaintiffs and only in Washington County.  Elected officials must be held accountable to the law and to the constitution they have sworn to uphold.  Part of the reason for the recent landslide mid-term election was the utter disregard and insolence shown by President Obama for the rule of law which is now infecting so many other politicians across America.  Respect for law must be restored or else legitimacy in government as an institution will diminish at an even greater rate.  Ultimately, if these local officials continue in this same reckless pattern of behavior, they could easily face the same fate as so many other politicians did who are now retired as a result of the last election.”

LINKS TO LAWSUITS:

Complaint: FFA v Buddy Dyer and Robert LeBlanc can be downloaded HERE

FFA v Armando Ramirez can be downloaded HERE