A FEDERAL appeals court has put same-sex weddings in California on hold indefinitely.
This is while it considers the constitutionality of the US state’s gay marriage ban.
The decision, issued yesterday by a three-judge panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals, trumps a lower court judge’s order that would have allowed county clerks to begin issuing marriage licences to same-sex couples today.
Chief US District Court judge Vaughn Walker decided last week to allow gay marriages to go forward after ruling that the ban, known as Proposition 8, violated equal protection and due process rights of gays and lesbians guaranteed under the US Constitution. The Proposition 8 legal team quickly appealed against Justice Walker’s ruling in a case that many believe will end up before the Supreme Court.
Lawyers for two same-sex couples had joined with California Attorney-General Jerry Brown in urging the appeals court to allow the weddings.
They argued that keeping the ban in place any longer would harm the civil rights of gays and lesbians.
The plaintiffs could now appeal against the 9th Circuit decision to Supreme Court judge Anthony Kennedy, who handles emergency motions for the US’s highest court.
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