Same-sex marriage continues in Utah after federal judge’s ruling

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A federal judge declined Monday to halt same-sex marriages in Utah as the state appeals his earlier ruling that overturned Utah’s same-sex marriage ban and declared it unconstitutional.halt while the state appeals Shelby’s ruling that Utah’s same-sex marriage ban is unconstitutional. Reuters reports that about 900 couples lined up in Salt Lake City early Monday to obtain marriage licenses, which the Salt Lake County clerk’s office began issuing Friday.

Related: Ohio must recognize same-sex marriages held out of state, judge rules.

Gay marriages to proceed in Utah as judge refuses to block ruling
Jennifer Dobner, Reuters
December 23, 2013

SALT LAKE CITY (Reuters) – Same-sex marriages were allowed to proceed in Utah after a federal judge on Monday refused to block his own ruling making gay marriage legal in the state.

U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby, who ruled last week that Utah’s ban on same-sex marriage violated the rights of gay couples to due process and equal protection under the U.S. Constitution, said the state had not met the legal standards required for him to issue a stay against his ruling.

Utah Governor Gary Herbert has already filed a formal notice signaling he would appeal the ruling, even as about 900 couples lined up in the cold early on Monday to obtain marriage licenses from the county clerk’s office in Salt Lake City.

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