MASS. ATTY. GENERAL SAYS HE'LL ENFORCE LAW AGAINST REBELLIOUS CLERKS: From the Associated Press

Attorney General Thomas Reilly said Friday that his office has contacted four rebellious clerks and instructed them to stop issuing marriage licenses to out-of-state gay couples, agreeing to a request from Gov. Mitt Romney.

Officials in Provincetown, Somerville, Springfield, and Worcester have openly defied Romney's edict forbidding clerks from marrying out-of-state couples. ...

Reilly declined to say what enforcement action he would take, but said he hoped that it would not be necessary.

"We expect the clerks to respect the law," he said.

Springfield clerk William Metzger said Thursday that he would stop issuing licenses if Reilly, the state's chief law enforcement officer, agreed with Romney's interpretation of the 1913 law.

Officials in Provincetown, Somerville and Worcester did not immediately return calls Friday seeking comment on whether Reilly's request for compliance would sway them to stop issuing licenses. ...

Reilly had previously said only residents of the 39 states that have passed Defense of Marriage Acts would be forbidden from marrying in Massachusetts.

On Friday, however, he agreed with Romney's interpretation that the 1913 law bars all out-of-state unions.

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