A Service of UA Little Rock
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Arkansas Supreme Court Suspends Gay Marriage Ruling

Gay marriage same-sex marriage Arkansas
Michael Hibblen
/
KUAR News

Arkansas' highest court has suspended a judge's ruling striking down the state's same-sex marriage ban, halting the distribution of licenses that have been issued to hundreds of gay couples.

The state Supreme Court on Friday granted a request to suspend Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza's decision voiding a 2004 constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman. Piazza last week struck down the ban, but expanded that ruling on Thursday to include all state laws preventing gay couples from marrying.

McDaniel and four counties named in the lawsuit asked justices to stay Piazza's ruling while it's on appeal.

More than 450 same-sex couples received marriage licenses since Piazza's ruling last week. Conway, Pulaski and Washington were the only counties issuing licenses to same-sex couples on Friday.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.
Related Content