By Josh Bergeron

josh.bergeron@salisburypost.com

With all four Rowan County representatives again voting in favor, a controversial bill to allow magistrates to be recused from marriage ceremonies passed the N.C. General Assembly on Thursday. This time, the bill is law.

Gov. Pat McCrory vetoed Senate Bill 2 on May 28 after it passed both houses of the General Assembly. Before McCrory’s veto, the bill received support from all of Rowan’s state legislators. It passed the House on Thursday by a 69-41 count with State Reps. Harry Warren, R-77, and Carl Ford, R-76, voting in favor.

The vote in the house was just enough to officially override McCrory’s veto. A total of 66 votes were needed for an override because 110 of the 120 members of the House were present.

It passed the Senate on June 1 by a 32-16 count, with Sens. Andrew Brock, R-34, and Tom McInnis, R-25, voting in favor.

Following the approval by both houses of the General Assembly, Senate Bill 2 is now law. Magistrates and staff in the Register of Deeds office can now be recused from issuing marriage licenses based on a “sincerely held religious objection.” The recusal lasts for six months and applies to both same-sex and traditional marriages.

The measure was proposed after a federal judge struck down the state’s gay marriage ban last year, effectively making same-sex marriage legal.

In Rowan County, Chief District Court Judge Charlie Brown on Thursday afternoon said no magistrate had requested a recusal from marriage ceremonies. Register of Deeds John Brindle could not be reached to comment on whether a staff member had requested a recusal.

Previously, Ford and Warren have said the bill isn’t intended to target same-sex couples. Debate in the legislature has questioned whether the bill would target same-sex couples and the exact definition of “sincerely held religious objection.”

Shortly after the veto override, the American Civil Liberties Union and McCrory released statements criticizing the General Assembly’s action.

McCrory said the veto override is disappointing for the process of passing legislation in North Carolina.

“I will continue to stand up for conservative principles that respect and obey the oath of office for public officials across our state and nation,” McCrory said in an emailed statement. “While some people inside the belt line are focusing on symbolic issues, I remain focused on the issues that are going to have the greatest impact on the next generation such as creating jobs, building roads, strengthening education and improving our quality of life.”

The ACLU asked couples who encounter difficulties obtaining a marriage license to contact its office.

“Just eight months after our state extended the freedom to marry to same-sex couples, extremist lawmakers have passed discrimination into law, allowing government officials to deny marriage services to virtually any couple,” said Sarah Preston, acting executive director of the ACLU of North Carolina. This shameful backlash against equality will make it harder for all couples in our state to marry and force many to spend what is supposed to be a happy day trapped in a maze of government offices. We encourage any North Carolina couples who encounter new hurdles because of this discriminatory law to contact our office.”

Contact reporter Josh Bergeron at 704-797-4246