Arizona attorney general to sue to block civil unions in Bisbee
4/3/2013PHOENIX — Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne will go to court to block the artists’ community of Bisbee from implementing a newly approved ordinance recognizing civil unions for same-sex couples.
Horne spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham says the planned lawsuit will be filed before the ordinance approved Tuesday night by the Bisbee City Council takes effect in 30 days.
The council approved the ordinance after three hours of testimony by residents of the former mining town in mostly rural southeastern Arizona.
Horne says he's not taking a policy stance against civil unions by planning to sue. He says the council acted outside its legal authority because state laws control things such as community property.
Bisbee City Attorney John MacKinnon says the city isn't changing state law and is acting within its authority.