FLORIDA GAYS CAN ADOPT: Bill McCollum Will Not Fight To Keep Ban (Updated)

When the clock strikes 5pm (EST) today, Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum will turn into a pumpkin. Oh wait, that’s not right. By that hour he will turn into either the jerk continuing to defend other jerks like George Alan Rekers and the guy who appealed the state’s gay adoption ruling, or the jerk continuing to defend other jerks like George Alan Rekers and the guy who left it alone. Yesterday McCollum still hadn’t indicated whether he would appeal the most recent decision, which struck down the ban, and which even the Department of Children and Families plans to leave alone, which way he’ll swing. Says Martin Gill, the plaintiff and adoptive parent: “We really want this to be the end. It’s something my kids need, something I need.” UPDATE: McCollum will not appeal the decision.

Equality Florida relays news that McCollum’s office says it will not appeal the ban, which the attorney general had the power to do despite DCF — which McCollum’s office also represented in court — choosing not to appeal. That means the court ruling stands, and the 33-year-old law becomes the last of its kind ot die.