U.S. Supreme Court blocks gay marriage ruling

Many same-sex couples were ready to get their marriage license Wednesday morning at local courthouses, but soon learned they couldn’t.

Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy has temporarily blocked an appeals court ruling that declared gay marriage legal in Idaho and Nevada. The order came minutes after the State of Idaho filed an emergency request for an immediate stay. The state’s request said that without a stay, state and county officials would have been required to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples at 10 a.m. EDT.

“I appreciate the fact that Associate Justice Kennedy has given the state of Idaho time to digest the decision of the appeals court and plot a clear, legal strategy forward,” Attorney General Wasden said. “I continue to take seriously my responsibility of defending the Idaho Constitution and the policy choices made by voters on the question of marriage.”

However, one gay couple received a marriage license before county employees got word of the stay.

Twin Falls County deputy chief clerk Sharon Lancaster says Don Moline and Clint Newlan received a license.

Kennedy’s order requested a response from the plaintiffs involved in Idaho’s gay marriage lawsuit by the end of day Thursday.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declared gay marriage legal in Idaho and Nevada on Tuesday, a day after the U.S. Supreme Court effectively legalized same-sex marriage in 30 other states.

Bannock County Clerk Robert Poleki said his office received an email from the Idaho Association of Counties around 7:30 Tuesday, stating all Idaho counties would need to start issuing licenses at 8 a.m. Wednesday morning.