New Mexico County Clerk resigns after being ordered to issue same-sex marriage licenses

Two officials responsible for issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples resigned their position this morning, the day after New Mexico’s Supreme Court ordered all 33 county clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

“We respect that these women made a tough decision,” says Pat Davis of ProgressNowNM, the state’s largest progressive advocacy organization supporting the campaign for marriage.  “In the end, their decision to resign is honorable if they feel that they are unable to execute their duties under the law.  All of our county clerks deserve credit for coming together to ask for a definitive decision on this issue of equality and we look forward to every clerk in the state offering licenses to every loving couple in their county.”

Roosevelt County (Portales) County Manager, Charlene Webb, has confirmed that Roosevelt County Clerk Donna Carpenter and her chief deputy, Janet Collins, tendered their resignations this morning.  Sources confirmed that Carpenter objected to issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples.  She was not one of eight clerks who issued licenses to couples earlier this year.

After months of organizing and legal dispute, New Mexico's Supreme Court issued an order yesterday requiring all county clerks to create a uniform marriage license for all couples and to begin issuing those licenses.

The county commission will appoint a new clerk.