Supreme Court stops gay marriage in Utah

The Supreme Court has halted same sex-marriages in Utah for the time being while an appeals court considers the issue.

In December, U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby issued a ruling that Utah's ban on same-sex marriage violated gay and lesbian couple's constitutional rights. The state of Utah made an emergency appeal to a federal appeal court last month to stop the marriages while the ruling is decided, but that was denied which allowed for gay marriages to proceed. The state elevated their appeal to the Supreme Court and the court issued the hold today while Shelby's ruling is decided at the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

No word yet on when the appeals court will issue a ruling.

From AP:

The Supreme Court has put same-sex marriages on hold in Utah, at least while a federal appeals court more fully considers the issue.

The court issued a brief order Monday blocking any new same-sex unions in the state.

The order follows an emergency appeal by the state following the Dec. 20 ruling by U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby that the state's ban on same-sex marriage violates gay and lesbian couples' constitutional rights.

More than 900 gay and lesbian couples have married since then.

The high court order will remain in effect until the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decides whether to uphold Shelby's ruling.