Mahoning County court prepares for same-sex ruling

YOUNGSTOWN — In gigantic volumes of records that date back to 1852, Mahoning County marriage licenses have two words typed side-by-side above the couples’ names: “groom” and “bride.”

That soon might change.

As early as Thursday, the United States Supreme Court could issue a landmark opinion about the right of same-sex couples to marry.

The case addresses same-sex marriage bans in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Michigan, but the decision will have a national impact.

One possible outcome is that the court strikes down state bans.

That scenario is one for which courthouses across the state, and here in the Mahoning Valley, have been preparing.

In cities such as Cleveland, the Associated Press reported, that has meant preparing for a flood of couples who wish to get married as soon as possible.

Judge Robert N. Rusu Jr. of Mahoning County Probate Court doesn’t see that happening here, but says he thinks there will be more traffic than usual coming through the county courthouse.

“I think it’s going to be an increase in volume, but I don’t think it’ll be people camping out on the stairs,” he said.

His office already has made some changes in case the ban is struck down.

“What we’ve been doing recently is just changing the actual [marriage-license application] forms,” he said. “We’ve had to order new applications that don’t say ‘husband’ and ‘wife.’”

For the complete story, read Thursday's Vindicator and Vindy.com