Nassau County Clerk of Courts
John Crawford, Clerk
Media Release
January 2, 2014 8:47 p.m.
Late yesterday, Federal Judge Robert Hinkle provided clarification that clerks across Florida are henceforth compelled to issue marriage licenses to same-gender couples.
“For as long as anyone can remember, legally-eligible couples making application for either a license to marry or requesting that the clerk’s office perform a civil wedding ceremony have been provided those services with dignity, professionalism and utmost courtesy in Nassau County. I believe that as a constitutional office and as an officer of the court, it is my duty to uphold both the letter and the spirit of the law, to serve every citizen who lawfully seeks our services,” says Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller John A. Crawford.
Judge Hinkle’s order states that “the Constitution requires all clerks to issue marriage licenses to all applicants, regardless of gender. Accordingly, this office will begin issuing licenses pursuant to that order starting next Tuesday, January 6. As always, civil wedding ceremonies will continue to be available upon request,” according to Clerk of the Court, John Crawford.
Please find additional information below.
Statement on Behalf of the Florida Court Clerks and Comptrollers Executive Director Kenneth A. Kent Regarding Judge Hinkle’s Clarification Order
Tallahassee, Florida. – The Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers today issued the following statment attributed to its Executive Director Kenneth A. Kent regarding Judge Hinkle’s order clarifying that his previous order prohibiting the enforcement of same-gender marriage applies to all Clerks of Court and County Judges statewide.
“We would like to thank Judge Hinkle today for his order, and for providing guidance that Clerks throughout the state have sought in order to gain clarity as to their responsibility and duty in this matter. “
“Given this development, we are strongly encouraging all Clerks to follow this clarification order and to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-gender couples on January 6, 2015.”
“Given that Judge Hinkle, in this order, recognized that ‘reasonable people could debate who’ his original injunction bound, we are glad that we asked for this clarification to ensure that all of Florida’s Clerks know what they are legally allowed to do as constitutional officers. All Clerks felt it their duty to move forward based on judicial authority, rather than on conflicting individual legal opinions which provided no protection as to the Clerk’s performance of the duty the law requires.”
For more information on the Floirda Court Clerks and Comptrollers, please visit www.myfloridaclerks.com
Thank you John Crawford for stepping up and doing the right thing! Makes me proud to live in Nassau County.
Well done Mr. Crawford! You make me proud to call Nassau County home.
A very good day for Florida. But with all due respect it wasn’t Mr Crawford who made this happen. It was the choice of the people of the United States and the United States Supreme Court that made this happen. Our elected officials were simply following the law and the ruling of the Supreme Court. Never the less — a historic day for equal rights.
Mr. Crawford did not mandate the law… As you note, that is the Constitution as interpreted by the courts.
What John Crawford DID DO was not jump on the bandwagon that some other county clerks chose to do by saying that they would stop offering civil marriage ceremonies so that they would not have to marry same-gender couples.
Could you imagine a drivers license office saying it would stop issuing licenses because now women or minorities are allowed to drive? Or a post office stopping delivery to certain areas of a city? When I first read that some clerks were stopping the civil marriage services I kept reading, waiting for the punch line. It HAD to be a joke, right?
Thank you for elevating Nassau County above the shameful Duval County clerk’s office that makes our area look redneck and backwards.
Good on you, Mr. Crawford. As for your colleagues to the South, I can’t get my head around the idea that public servants are entitled to decide which members of the public they’re going to serve.
Kudos to Mr. Crawford!
I’m so proud of the Nassau County Clerks Office and John Crawford.
I am proud that our county is complying with the law of the land and I thank Mr. Crawford for stating right from the get-go that the Nassau County Clerk’s Office will offer civil ceremonies to all who wish to wed and share a life together. It has been so embarrassing to have Pam Bondi rail against same-sex marriage (when she is twice divorced!) and then the Duval and Clay County Clerks turning their backs on their constituents!! So, can a County Clerk be impeached? Our neighbors in Duval and Clay Counties may want to consider that.
Great news for my home! It’s about time we recognized Liberty for all people.
This certainly is a proud moment for our community and I am delighted that our clerk, John Crawford, took the high road by continuing to offer civil ceremonies to all couples and not belittling the office he holds by espousing whatever personal opinions he may or may not have. It is not the job of the Clerk of Court to make decisions based on his personal beliefs but rather on the will of the people and letter of the law. A proud day indeed and one sorely needed.