HARRISBURG — A Pennsylvania judge is promising to rule quickly on whether a county clerk should be ordered to stop handing out marriage licenses to same-sex couples.

Commonwealth Court Judge Dan Pellegrini did not signal this morning what direction he might rule as lawyers debated the actions of Bruce Hanes, who issues licenses in suburban Philadelphia.

Arguments lasted over an hour, with lawyers for Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration saying Hanes’ decision is not allowed under state law.

The lawyer for Montgomery County, where Hanes works, says the court can tailor its decision in a way that won’t create chaos.

Montgomery County Register of Wills Hanes has been handing out marriage licenses to same-sex couples since late July, despite a Pennsylvania law defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

Oral arguments before Commonwealth Court today involve a lawsuit filed by the state Health Department against Hanes. By the close of business Tuesday, Hanes had issued 164 licenses, and 98 of them have been completed, returned and filed.