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.