Arkansas Attorney General asks court for stay to suspend same-sex marriage
The Attorney General in the US state of Arkansas has filed with the state’s highest court asking for a stay to suspend a ruling to allow same-sex marriage.
At the weekend, Judge Chris Piazza ruled that the state’s constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage violated the rights of same-sex couples by defining marriage as between a man and a woman.
The ruling came late on Friday – after county clerks offices had closed for the week – meaning the first marriages were set to take place when they opened today.
Attorney General Dustin McDaniel on Saturday urged Piazza to reconsider his decision not to issue a stay, saying: “We will request that Judge Piazza issue a stay of his ruling so as not to create confusion or uncertainty about the law while the Supreme Court considers the matter.”
He has now filed the appeal for a stay. Democratic McDaniel says he supports same-sex marriage, but that he believes it is his duty to continue defending the ban.
