LITTLE ROCK — An error in a new law that allows Arkansans of any age — even toddlers — to marry with parental consent must be fixed by lawmakers, not an independent commission authorized to correct typos, a judge ruled Wednesday. The law, which took effect July 31, was intended to establish 18 as the minimum age to marry while also allowing pregnant minors to marry with parental consent. An extraneous "not" in the bill, however, allows anyone who is not pregnant to marry at any age with if the parents allow it. Gov. Mike Beebe has declined to call lawmakers into special session to clear up the error, saying there is no imminent crisis. Instead, he said the Arkansas Code Revision Commission, which is authorized to correct typos and technical errors, could make the change. A woman who gave her 17-year-old daughter permission to marry based on the old law, which set the minimum marriage age at 17 for boys and 16 for girls, sued in Benton County after officials there denied her a marriage license. In a decision Wednesday, Circuit Judge Tom J.
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Arkansas makes Missouri look good.
