DAN SEWELL, Associated Press

CINCINNATI (AP) — The gay marriage issue is headed back toward the U.S. Supreme Court.

A federal appeals court in Cincinnati has halted a run of rulings supporting same-sex marriage by the courts that are the last line for appeals just below the Supreme Court. The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel instead upheld laws against the practice in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee.

Attorneys for gay plaintiffs say they will ask the Supreme Court to hear their arguments. The court a month ago declined to rule on cases from five other states, but the split created Thursday among the federal appeals courts makes it more likely they will agree to rule this time.

The question is how long from now.