Budget cuts to delay Iowa gay marriages

updated 2:54 p.m. ET April 7, 2009

DES MOINES, Iowa - The Iowa Supreme Court is delaying the date when same-sex couples can begin filing for marriage licenses because of budget cuts.

Court spokesman Steve Davis announced Tuesday that people can file for licenses beginning Monday, April 27. That's three days after the previously announced date of April 24.

Davis says the court opted for the delay because April 24 was designated as a furlough day, when courts will close to save money because of budget cuts.

It's one of eight days the state's courts will close before the end of the fiscal year June 30.

The Iowa Supreme Court ruled last Friday that a state law limiting marriage to a man and a woman violates the constitutional rights of equal protection, opening the door to same-sex marriage.

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