Marriage licenses for same-sex couples in Utah can no longer be issued, after the Supreme Court today ruled in favor of the state’s request to temporarily block the impact of a federal judge’s recent ruling striking down as unconstitutional a ban on gays and lesbians from legal marriage, reports CNN.
Today’s issue from the high court on the enforcement question is only temporary and isn’t the final decision on the constitutionality of the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
The state argued last week in its high court appeal that “as a result of the district court’s injunction, numerous same-sex marriages are now occurring every day in Utah. And each one is an affront… to the interests of the states and its citizens in being able to define marriage through ordinary democratic channels.”
The request was presented to Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who asked all her colleagues to weigh in. Monday’s order had no noted dissents and can be enforced immediately.
Read more on this breaking news story at CNN.
Photography by Holly Steen from Cakes and Kisses Wedding Photography and Katie from Katie Gardner Photography
