Arkansas Judge Strikes Down All Laws Banning Same Sex Marriage

The latest in an ongoing legal tug-of-war between the state and the state judiciary, an Arkansas judge ruled on Thursday that any state law banning same-sex marriage was void.

Pulaski County Circuit Court Judge Chris Piazza’s ruling came a day after the Arkansas Supreme Court rejected the state’s request to stay Judge Piazza’s May 9 ruling allowing same-sex marriage, but cited a different state law on the books that prohibited clerks from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Piazza’s response was to strike down all laws that prevent same-sex couples from getting married.

Pulaski County Clerk Larry Crane told TIME that Thursday’s decision was broad enough to cover all legislation that could affect same-sex marriage. His office is already issuing licenses to same-sex couples, he said.

“We’ve already had one couple come in,” Crane told TIME. “We don’t have a line yet, but it’s been less than an hour.”