OHIO: Ethics Board Rules That Judges Who Perform Weddings Must Marry Same-Sex Couples Couples

Ohio Judge Allen McConnell has lost his battle not to marry gay couples. The Star-Tribune reports:

Judges who perform marriages in Ohio can’t refuse to marry same-sex couples on personal or moral grounds or because of religious beliefs, according to a state judicial conduct board. In addition, judges who stop performing all marriages to avoid marrying same-sex couples may be interpreted as biased and could be disqualified from any case where sexual orientation is an issue, according to an opinion by the Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Professional Conduct issued Friday and made public Monday. The ruling followed a request for guidance from a Toledo judge who refused to perform a same-sex wedding last month. Municipal Judge C. Allen McConnell said he didn’t marry a same-sex couple because of his religious beliefs after the U.S. Supreme Court made gay marriage legal in all 50 states in June.

McConnell says that he will abide by the ruling.