Judges who stop performing all marriages may be interpreted as biased. Photo:

Judges who stop performing all marriages may be interpreted as biased. Photo:

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio judicial board has ruled that judges who perform weddings can’t refuse same-sex couples based on personal, moral, or religious beliefs.

The board also says judges who stop performing all marriages to avoid marrying same-sex couples may be interpreted as biased, and could be disqualified from any case where sexual orientation is an issue.

The Ohio Supreme Court’s Board of Professional Conduct issued the ruling Monday after a Toledo judge who refused to perform a same-sex wedding asked the board to clarify his duties.

Municipal Judge C. Allen McConnell said he didn’t marry a same-sex couple because of his religious beliefs after the U.S. Supreme Court made gay marriage legal in all 50 states in July.

A message left with McConnell seeking comment wasn’t immediately returned.

© 2015, Associated Press, All Rights Reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.