Iowa judge to stop performing marriages

At least one Iowa magistrate has decided that he will no longer perform marriages, a response due in part to the Iowa Supreme Court ruling that allows same-sex couples to marry.Third District Magistrate Francis Honrath of Larchwood on Wednesday said he will not be performing marriages."The Supreme Court ruling had something to do with it, but the truth is it's not just same-sex marriage I had problems with," said Honrath, a Creighton University law school graduate who is married and has seven children. More judges are expected to take similar action, which could make it challenging for even heterosexuals to marry, a political science professor, a chief district court judge and a same-sex marriage opponent speculated. District 3 Chief Judge Duane Hoffmeyer said he believes other court officials will also stop performing marriages."It's a discretionary function," Hoffmeyer said. "Some have never done any marriages. It's up to the individual and, to be honest, with everything that's going on, some are still unresolved on whether they will or won't." http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090423/NEWS10/904230387