TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A civil liberties group is drafting a response to an order from U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonya Sotomayor that blocks gay marriage in Kansas.
Sotomayor put a hold on a federal judge’s ruling that would have allowed same-sex unions in the state starting at 5 p.m. CST Tuesday.
That injunction came in a lawsuit filed last month by the American Civil Liberties Union. Kansas wants to enforce its ban while the lawsuit is reviewed.
Sotomayor directed the ACLU to respond Tuesday. The group expects that to be ready ahead of an afternoon deadline.
Gay rights advocates and state officials say even if Sotomayor clears the way for gay marriages in this case, it’s not clear how it would affect a separate case on the issue before the Kansas Supreme Court.
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TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas gay-rights advocates are watching the U.S. Supreme Court as they hope same-sex couples can get marriage licenses this week.
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Monday temporarily blocked gay marriages in Kansas, but it wasn’t clear how long she or the high court would continue to do so.
Sotomayor put on hold a federal judge’s injunction preventing the state from enforcing its gay-marriage ban. The lower-court ruling was to take effect at 5 p.m. CST Tuesday.
The judge’s injunction came in a lawsuit filed last month by the American Civil Liberties Union. Kansas wants to keep enforcing its ban while the lawsuit is reviewed.
Sotomayor directed the ACLU to respond Tuesday.
If the justice reconsiders, gay couples could head to Kansas courthouses Wednesday morning.
