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Counties Ask NM High Court To Decide Gay Marriage

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  A group representing New Mexico counties is asking the state's highest court to decide whether gay marriage is legal.

The Association of Counties and clerks statewide filed a petition Thursday with the state Supreme Court. They're seeking clarity in a legal dispute that's been rapidly changing in the past two weeks since a county clerk in southern New Mexico independently began issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples.

Since then, seven other counties followed — some because of court orders.

More than 900 marriage licenses have been granted to same-sex couples in the state.

The Supreme Court was asked to temporarily halt pending lawsuits on gay marriage until the justices make a decision on the issue.

It remains uncertain whether the high court will accept the case.