Iowa Supreme Court administrators have set a date for the same-sex marriage ruling to take effect. The decision that struck down a state law defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman was issued last Friday. The 21-day window for the ruling to take effect would have fallen on April 24, but state court offices are closed on that date because of budget cuts.
Court administrators say the Varnum versus Brien ruling, which will allow gay couples to wed, will instead take effect on Monday, April 27. The date would only be changed if one party files for a petition of rehearing in the case, but Polk County Attorney John Sarcone – whose office represented the Polk County recorder in defending the law – has said he does not plan to seek a rehearing.