In a New Years Day ruling, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle has said all clerks in the state are bound by the U.S. Constitution to issue marriage license to same-sex couples starting January 6.

Confusion over the scope of Hinkle’s August ruling striking down Florida’s same-sex marriage ban had previously led many county clerks to announce they would not be issuing licenses to gay couples next week. 

The Miami Herald reports:

The preliminary injunction now in effect thus does not require the Clerk to issue licenses to other applicants,” Hinkle wrote in an order released Thursday afternoon. “But as set out in the order that announced issuance of the preliminary injunction, the Constitution requires the Clerk to issue such licenses.”

Said Howard Simon, executive direction of the ACLU of Florida: “This is a New Years Day present from federal Judge Robert Hinkle – he has given Florida the roadmap to an orderly transition to being a state that treats all its people equally.”

Developing…

Here’s Hinkle’s ruling via Equality Case Files:

In related news, three bigoted Florida county clerks have decided to end all courthouse wedding ceremonies in their respective counties rather than share space with gay couples tying the knot.