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Judge denies stay, allows same-sex marriages to go forward in Alaska

ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A federal court judge has denied a request from the state of Alaska to put same-sex marriages on hold until an appeal is heard. U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess denied the state's request for a stay on Tuesday, two days after he struck down the state's ban on gay marriage as unconstitutional.
By MARK THIESSEN | Associated Press · Updated on October 17, 2014
Judge denies stay, allows same-sex marriages to go forward in Alaska

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska — A federal court judge has denied a request from the state of Alaska to put same-sex marriages on hold until an appeal is heard.

U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Burgess denied the state’s request for a stay on Tuesday, two days after he struck down the state’s ban on gay marriage as unconstitutional.

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The state intends to appeal that decision to the 9th Circuit Court. The state could also ask that court to delay same-sex marriages from going forward, but the court has allowed marriages to continue in other states within its jurisdiction.

A message left with the state attorney’s office after hours Tuesday wasn’t immediately returned.

Gay couples began applying for marriage licenses on Monday, triggering a three-day wait period. But in at last two cases, couples were granted waivers of the rule and were married in Barrow.

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