May 17, 2004: Gov. Romney ordered town clerks to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples as per the Supreme Judicial Court’s ruling, 180 days after it was issued, without the legislative action called for by the actual ruling.
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From the article you posted. Goodridge called on the legislature to act, not the governor. It was Romney’s actions and nobody elses.
The US Supreme court can strike a law down, but cannot technically change a law. The MA SJC cannot strike a law down, they can advise, which they did- they advised the legislature to act. They did not, but Romney sent his letter demanding that officials elected by the towns start issuing same sex licenses.
Romney used executive action to enforce a ruling directed at the legislature.