Motion for Stay of Utah Gay Marriage Ruling Denied

A federal appeals court has rejected an emergency request from Utah officials to stay a judge's ruling that overturned the state's same-sex marriage ban.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports (http://bit.ly/JTtw6r ) Sunday that the state asked for the emergency stay to prevent the issuance of marriage licenses to same-sex couples Monday morning.

U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby overturned the ban on Friday, causing couples around Utah to begin making marriage plans.

A stay by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals would have prevented marriage licenses from being issued while the state appeals Shelby's ruling.

State officials have also asked Shelby for a stay, and a hearing on that request is set for Monday morning.

The 10th Circuit on Sunday said they couldn't rule on a stay until Shelby hasn't acted on the motion before him.