Utah appeals to U.S. Supreme Court to halt same-sex marriages

SALT LAKE CITY – The Utah Attorney General’s Office has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court to put a halt to same-sex marriages in the state while it appeals the ruling of a federal District Court that struck down Utah’s same-sex marriage ban.

The application seeks a stay on the Dec. 20 ruling made by federal district Judge Robert Shelby who declared Utah’s same-sex marriage ban as unconstitutional. The attorney general’s office appealed to Judge Shelby and the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals to stay the ruling, but was subsequently denied each time.

Now the state has filed a motion to the U.S. Supreme Court for a stay, directing its application to Supreme Court justice Sonia Sotomayor specifically, as she oversees the Tenth Circuit Court.

If Sotomayor declines a stay, the Utah Attorney General’s Office can apply for a stay to the Supreme Court as a whole.

Since Shelby’s ruling, over 700 same-sex marriages occurred in the state.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2013, all rights reserved.

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12 Comments

  • Craig December 31, 2013 at 5:24 pm

    MORE of our tax dollars going out the window. And for what?
    With any luck, it will go to SCOTUS and they will strike down same sex marriage bans throughout the nation.

  • Husband & Father December 31, 2013 at 6:13 pm

    Protect the dignity of strong & purposeful family relationships & commitments. Thanks to God for His unwavering clarity in these matters!

    • Nonbeliever December 31, 2013 at 8:32 pm

      Allowing all adult human beings the same rights is not going to effect the “dignity” of your heterosexual marriages or commitments.
      You and others are imposing your religious values and personal opinions on everyone. These people, these human beings are not going to interfere with your religion or personal matters. Why do you think you have the right to force yours on them?
      You are not judge, jury or any God’s spokesperson. He told you to love one another. That means everyone not just those you deem worthy.

      • ladybugavenger December 31, 2013 at 10:43 pm

        Your alias is non believer and yet you bring up God. I’m confused oh wait no, you are….

      • feelthelove December 31, 2013 at 10:48 pm

        Husband and father has no hate in his statement. But I feel the hate coming from you. Don’t hate…

  • Chuck and Willie December 31, 2013 at 8:45 pm

    The June 26 Supreme Court ruling that DOMA was unconstitutional made Utah’s 2004 ban on gay marriage illegal under the 14th amendment. For or against gay marriage, it is still stupid that our state is spending money taking this case to the EXACT SAME Supreme Court that ruled DOMA unconstitutional to begin with.

    14th Amendment:
    Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

  • Ti January 1, 2014 at 8:26 am

    An expensive, pathetic, desperate, action designed to appease conservative Utah constituents and maintain political face with the AG and Governor. Pointless.

  • Steve January 1, 2014 at 9:32 am

    People crying about tax dollars when over 60 percent of taxpayers voted to ban gay marriage. Why not blame the few gays,lawyers, and a judge for changing that. I am glad my tax dollars are being spent in the interest of what was wanted in the first place. I am sure you would be happy the way tax dollars are spent in places like California. And before nonbeliever makes another comment about Mormons and religious beliefs, I am not religious or a good ol boy. I just happen to like living in Utah without liberals always trying to change laws and ways of life that the people voted on.

    • Craig January 1, 2014 at 3:43 pm

      Perhaps a special fund can be set up to be used to fight for inequality and bigotry. Why not set one up and you and anyone who would like to see our tax dollar$$ misspent can contribute to it, thus saving the tax payers from funding a useless fight. Furthermore, if additional counsel must be brought in to aid the state and the office of the AG, it just points out their shortcomings and inability to serve .

    • sam January 2, 2014 at 7:17 am

      So if we go by what this fellow says the majority could vote to reinstate slavery and that would be fine because that’s what the majority wants right!

      • Steve January 2, 2014 at 3:46 pm

        You are an idiot. Who would want to bring back slavery?

        • sam January 2, 2014 at 7:39 pm

          Apparently you if we go by your comment above! I know sarcasm is hard to detect in text form for trolls. OH YA and your so brave! calling people names behind a keyboard! Sticks and stones buddy!!!

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