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U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor blocks Kansas same-sex marriage ruling

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor blocks Kansas same-sex marriage ruling

Update: 6:20 p.m. EST

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has issued an order blocking same-sex marriages in Kansas. Sotomayor’s brief order Monday puts on hold on a lower court order allowing same-sex couples to marry in Kansas.

The order calls for a response by the plaintiffs to be filed by 4 p.m. CST on Tuesday. The delay, temporarily preventing issuance of licenses to gay and lesbian couples in Kansas, will remain in effect until there is a further order either by Sotomayor or by the full Court.

The lower court order was set to take effect at 5 p.m. CST Tuesday, so Sotomayor’s stay could still be lifted on Tuesday and marriages could proceed without any additional delay.


Previously: 4:00 p.m. CST

TOPEKA, Kan. — Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow the state to continue enforcing its ban on same-sex marriage.

Derek Schmidt
Derek Schmidt

Schmidt’s office filed the request Monday with Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who handles emergency requests from the federal appeals circuit that includes Kansas.

The appeals court rejected a similar request last week.

Schmidt wants the high court to put on hold an injunction last week from U.S. District Judge Daniel Crabtree that prohibits Kansas from enforcing its policies against gay marriage, including a provision of the state Constitution.

Crabtree’s order is due to take effect at 5 p.m. Tuesday.

The judge issued the order in a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union for two lesbian couples denied marriage licenses last month.

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