A statement from the president of the Recorders Association of Missouri:

June 26, 2015

Statement by the Recorders Association of Missouri Re: SCOTUS Ruling on same Sex Marriage

The primary function of the Recorder is to follow the statuatory duties for which they are entrusted as well as preserve documents with relation to property and other important events/transactions with the upmost care and consistency. One such responsibility is the issuance of marriage licenses. In recent years there have been a number of policy issues related to the function and Recorders ha[ve] consistently worked to comply with the standard at the time.

Immediately upon the ruling of the Supreme Court we requested clarification from our attorney to assess the applicability of the ruling, as well as the operational requirements such as time frame for compliance. The sum and substance of the ruling makes clear the Fourteenth Amendment to the US Constitution requires a State to license marriage between two people of the same sex. Additionally, rulings of the Supreme Court take effect 25 days after the date of the ruling unless the court states otherwise, which is not the case in this decision. It is important to point out that there is no restriction with regard to implementing the ruling before 25 days.

While we recognize the issue of same sex marriage may be uncomfortable for some in our community, the Office of recorder has consistently held itself to the highest standard of professionalism and constituent responsiveness. Our responsibilities require us to follow the law expeditiously and with care. Therefore, we are recommending to all recorders they review their current procedures related to the issuance of marriage licenses in the context of the Supreme Court’s ruling and act accordingly.

Jan Jones

Recorder of Deeds

President, Recorders Association of Missouri

Johnson County Courthouse

[….]

Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds Jan Jones informed us that she issued the first marriage license for a same sex couple in Johnson County early this afternoon.

Previously:

Marriage Equality in America (June 26, 2015)

Conversations like this are taking place today in courthouses across Missouri and America (June 26, 2015)

A little under an hour after this morning’s marriage equality ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court we stopped by the courthouse in Warrensburg to speak with Jan Jones, Johnson County Recorder of Deeds about the immediate impact of the ruling. Marriage licenses are issued by county recorders. As we were waiting to speak with the recorder a patron entered the office to inquire about getting a marriage license.

The office of Recorder of Deeds in the courthouse in Johnson County, Missouri.

Show Me Progress: So, you, you’ve shown up here today for the Johnson County Courthouse in Missouri, uh, for the Recorder to see if you can get a marriage license for same sex marriage.

Patron at Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds office: Correct.

Show Me Progress: So, uh, you, you just heard about the Supreme Court ruling?

Patron: Yes.

Show Me Progress: And so you decided to come out here?

Patron: Right.

[….]

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds:  Good morning.

Patron: Good morning. I guess we have a popular question for you.

[….]

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds:  And what’s your question?

Patron: I know it’s just passed, but what’s Johnson County doing? Is it gonna be the same application process, everything’s gonna be the same as it always has?

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds:  What we do here in the office will be the same…

Patron:  Okay.

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds:  …you know, as far as people coming in.

Patron: I was just making sure she was handing me the right brochure. I didn’t know if you guys were gonna change one or what.

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds:  Well, I’m kind of glad you said something about changing it. As soon as, what we’re waiting for right now, it was just issued.

Patron: Okay. Right, right.

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds:  Right.

Patron: I know things don’t happen [finger snap].

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds:  Right.

Patron: I know, I understand.

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds:  Our, our association attorney is reviewing, um, the ruling…

Patron: Okay.

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds: And will have instructions for all Missouri recorders, uh, probably by noon today. That’s her goal.

Patron: Okay.

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds: That will tell us exactly when it’s effective, you know. We don’t think it’s immediate. Could be next business day, we think it’s going to be the twenty-five days, but we don’t know that.

[….]

We can take the application, have you all sign it, we hold it in the drawer, and then when the, the magic day happens then we can issue the license and you can leave here with the license and go to whomever’s going to marry you.

Patron: Okay.

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds: Okay?

Patron: Okay. That sounds like a plan. We’re gonna make that happen then.

[….]

I just didn’t know if anything was gonna change because I don’t.  You wouldn’t think and you wouldn’t think it would take ’em long due to the fact there’s other states that have, so.

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds: Right. We’re ready to go. We just need, you know, we have, things have changed, we just need the attorney to say this is the day that we can begin issuing. So, soon as I hear back I can give you a call, let you know what they’ve told me, and we’ll move from there.

Patron: Thank you very much.

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds: You’re welcome.

Patron: It’s a big day.

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds: Yes, it is.

Patron: Believe it or not, I actually cried when the news…

[….]

Show Me Progress: …there’s actually some states already that are issuing.

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds: Yes, I saw where Ohio…

Show Me Progress: Yeah, Ohio is issuing, so…

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds: And we might be issuing on Monday…

[….]

Show Me Progress: And so you’re, you’re prepared to, um, once you get the directives that you can operate and you’re prepared to start issuing licenses.

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds: Yes, yes, we’ve got our system ready to go. We’ve updated the system so that we can take gender and the gender, the system, won’t stop us from having two of the same.

Show Me Progress: So, So the system is already set so that you can…?

Jan Jones, Johnson County, Missouri Recorder of Deeds: Yeah. We’re ready to go.

[….]

Previously:

Marriage Equality in America (June 26, 2015)