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Tazewell County Clerk to argue against gay marriage in Illinois

By WEEK Reporter
July 3, 2012 Updated Jul 3, 2012 at 9:46 PM CDT

Illinois is likely to move into the forefront of legal action on the legality of same-sex marriage.

25 same-sex couples have filed a lawsuit against the State of Illinois, arguing the state ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan and the Cook County Circuit Clerk have both refused to defend the state in the case -- in the belief that the state law is unconstututional.

Illinois has allowed for "civil unions" between same sex couples for over a year now, but bans gay marriage.

Now, the County Clerks of Tazewell and Effingham have entered the case, and their attorney will argue for the ban on gay marriage.

First arguments could be heard in Cook County in September.

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