Texas officials amend death certificate to reflect gay union
[font color=330099]Sorry for not getting here yesterday, but I slept really late (nearly 7 p.m.) because I didn't get any sleep on Thursday since I'm usually anxious before medical appointments. I see there are a few stories in the backlog so this should keep you entertained on Saturday.[/font] 
AUSTIN (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says a federal judge should not hold him in contempt over the state initially refusing, but ultimately agreeing, to reflect the marriage of a gay couple on a death certificate.
It is the latest conflict surrounding Paxton since the U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage earlier this summer. Critics have accused the Republican, a vocal opponent of same-sex marriage, of resisting the landmark ruling by advising county clerks in Texas that they could refuse marriage licenses to gay couples on religious grounds.
State health officials said late Thursday they complied with a court order to amend the death certificate of a Houston gay man's late husband. But that was not before U.S. District Judge Orlando Garcia ordered Paxton to appear in court and explain why he shouldn't be held in contempt for enforcing state laws that impede gay marriage rights.
Paxton argued there is "no authority" for a constitutional officer to be held in contempt for providing legal advice to the Texas Department of State Health Services. He told the San Antonio court that he did not personally refuse to amend the death certificate, and only gave legal advice to state health officials.
Read more: http://lubbockonline.com/filed-online/2015-08-07/texas-officials-amend-death-certificate-reflect-gay-union#.VcWJ3fkT-70
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