HARRISBURG – Pennsylvania’s attorney general is giving lawyers for Gov. Tom Corbett written legal authority to handle a case in which the Health Department wants to stop a clerk from giving marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
The filing on Tuesday, a day before of a court hearing in the case, contained an exchange of letters that occurred over the Labor Day weekend. One of Corbett’s lawyers says in the first letter they believe they have the required authority, but a recent directive from the court suggested that confirmation may be needed at Wednesday’s hearing.
An aide to Attorney General Kathleen Kane says the delegation letter formalizes something that had previously been worked out with Corbett’s attorneys. Montgomery County Register of Wills Bruce Hanes has issued more than 160 licenses to same-sex couples. Pennsylvania doesn’t permit civil unions or gay marriage.