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ByCurtAndersonand Tamara Lush The Associated Press MIAMI Lesbian and gay couples were wed in Miami on Monday by the same judge who approved their marriage licenses, hours before Florida's coming-out party as the nation's 36th state where same-sex mar- riages are legal statewide. The addition of Florida's 19.9 million people means 70 percent of Americans now live in states where gay marriage is legal. The cheers in the court- house reflect how much the nation's third-largest state has changed since the days of Anita Bryant, the for- mer beauty pageant queen and orange juice spokes- woman who started her national campaign against gay rights in Miami in the 1970s. "It's been a long time coming," said Cathy Pareto, who wed Karla Arguello, her partner of 15 years. "Fi- nally Florida recognizes us as a couple. It's just, I don't know, sweet justice." But signs of opposition were evident farther north, where more conservative Floridians live. In Jacksonville, Duval County Court Clerk Ron- nie Fussell shut down the courthouse chapel, saying no marriage ceremonies — either gay or straight — would be allowed there. At least two other counties in northeast Florida did the same. "Mr. Fussell said some of his people felt a little un- comfortable doing it," said his spokesman, Charlie Bro- ward. "It could cause dis- criminations down there (in the marriage license de- partment) with those who are uncomfortable. We wanted to eliminate any unfairness." Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Sarah Zabel cleared the way for the first same- sex weddings ahead of midnight, when U.S. Dis- trict Judge Robert L. Hin- kle's ruling was taking ef- fect statewide. Then, she presided over a dual ceremony, marry- ing Todd and Jeff Delmay moments after the lesbian couple in chambers packed with supporters and news media. The women work in investment banking, and have an adopted 2-year- old son. The Delmays, to- gether nearly 12 years, have a 4-year-old adopted son and operate an event-plan- ning business. Todd and Jeff legally changed their last names to Delmay — an amalgama- tion of their prior surnames — and have worn wedding rings on their right hands for years. On Monday, they switched them to the left. "It's such a journey we've been on. We're just thrilled," said Todd Del- may. "We're thrilled for ev- erybody. It's such a trans- formative time." More weddings were planned Tuesday in large- scale ceremonies in Or- lando, Tampa, Key West and Broward County. Palm Beach was preparing for a flood of applications, and a courthouse in Delray Beach was opening Monday night to officiate at a mass wed- ding after midnight. "I think we're going to have a huge turnout," said Palm Beach County Clerk's spokeswoman Kristina Ci- uperger. And Florida's northern counties may see an influx of license applications by couples from other South- ern states where marriage bans remain in place. Sean Hudson, a spokes- man for the state clerks' as- sociation, said "the clerks are going to do what their duty is" and issue marriage licenses to any same-sex couples seeking them, even though some will no longer perform weddings, which is an optional part of their job. Florida's constitution was amended with a 62-38 percent vote to ban same- sex marriages in 2008. But judges in Florida, as in many other states, found that such bans violate the U.S. Constitution's guaran- tees of equal treatment and due process. Although same-sex mar- riage is now reality in Flor- ida, Attorney General Pam Bondi is still pursuing ap- peals at both the federal and state levels. Her posi- tion — shared by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, now considering a run for pres- ident — is that marriage should be defined by each state. Tellingly, however, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and then the U.S. Supreme Court refused Bondi's request to extend an order blocking same-sex marriages beyond Monday, essentially giving the green light to the weddings tak- ing place now. And Bondi's office didn't even appear at Zabel's hearing; One of her attorneys said by telephone that the state wouldn't op- pose the clerk issuing the first licenses. "This is a pivotal moment not just for Miami but for the entire country. Florida is a bellwether state, and I can think of no more en- couraging sign as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to decide whether to re- solve this issue for the en- tire country at its next con- ference on January 9," said Shannon Minter, legal di- rector for the National Cen- ter for Lesbian Rights. Still, opponents weren't giving up without a fight. Liberty Counsel, a conser- vative legal group based, planned to keep trying to block clerks from issuing licenses, even though pre- vious attempts were dis- missed in court. "That some clerks may issue licenses against the law doesn't ob- viate any of the appeals," said the group's lawyer, Horatio "Harry" Mihet. FLORIDA Judgewedsgays,lesbiansa errulingagainstban WILFREDOLEE—THEASSOCIATEDPRESS Karla Arguello, right, and Catherina Pareto, walk to the marriage license bureau a er having attended a hearing in which a Miami-Dade Circuit Judge cleared the way for gay and lesbian couples to marry, on Monday in Miami. By Denise Lavoie The Associated Press BOSTON Some of the pro- spective jurors who could decide Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's fate got their first look Mon- day at the young man ac- cused of bombing the Bos- ton Marathon, and they seemed transfixed by the sight of the shaggy-haired 21-year-old. Tsarnaev, for his part, rose to his feet and nodded, slightly and awkwardly, as he was introduced to the first group of about 200 citizens. So began what could be weeks of jury selection in the nation's most closely watched terror trial since the Oklahoma City bomb- ing two decades ago. Security was tight, with dozens of police officers sta- tioned inside and outside the federal courthouse along with bomb-sniffing dogs. The potential jurors seemed riveted by Tsar- naev and by U.S. District Judge George O'Toole Jr.'s explanation of the gravity of what they will be asked to do if they are picked: They must decide not only whether the former college student is guilty or inno- cent, but also what his pun- ishment will be if he is con- victed — life in prison or ex- ecution. The judge told the po- tential jurors not to think of the trial as "an annoying burden," but as a needed service and an "important duty of citizenship." Tsarnaev is accused of planning and carrying out the twin pressure-cooker bombings that killed three people and wounded more than 260 near the finish line of the race on April 15, 2013. O'Toole briefly outlined the 30 charges against Tsarnaev, which include using a weapon of mass destruction. He is also ac- cused of killing an MIT police officer as he and his brother, now dead, made their getaway. Tsarnaev, flanked by his attorneys, sat at a table at the front of the room. Wearing a dark sweater and khaki pants, he looked down much of the time and picked at his beard. He nodded to the first group of potential jurors in the morning. When he stood for a second group of 200 in the afternoon, he looked down at the floor. Over three days, a pool of about 1,200 prospective ju- rors will be summoned to court. Twelve jurors and six alternates will ultimately be selected. The judge said testimony in the trial will begin on Jan. 26 and last three to four months. BOMBING Jury selection starts in Boston Marathon bombing trial | NEWS | REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM TUESDAY, JANUARY 6, 2015 8 A