Maryland furloughs prevent New Year's Eve marriages

ANNAPOLIS, MD Dec. 31 is usually the second busiest day, after Valentine's Day, for weddings at the Anne Arundel County Circuit Courthouse in Annapolis.

But because of state furloughs to reduce a $2 billion budget deficit, no weddings were performed there Thursday.

Jason Caton is assistant chief deputy of the clerk of the court and one of two people who perform most of the courthouse's civil marriages. He tells The Capital of Annapolis that Jan. 4 will probably be pretty busy with people who didn't realize the courthouse would not be performing New Year's Eve weddings.