IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Supreme Court Puts Same-Sex Marriages on Hold in Kansas

Justice Sonia Sotomayor called for a response from advocates for same-sex marriage by late Tuesday afternoon.
Image: Sonia Sotomayor
Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor speaks at San Jose State University in California in October.AP file

The U.S. Supreme Court hit the pause button Monday on same-sex marriage in Kansas.

Acting by herself, Sonia Sotomayor, the justice assigned to the 10th Circuit, put the legal process in the state on hold. She called for a response from advocates for marriage by 5 p.m. Tuesday.

A federal judge last week ordered the state to begin permitting same-sex marriage licenses to be issued. The judge gave the state until 5 p.m. Tuesday to appeal. Late last week, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver denied the state's request for a hold on the judge's ruling, and the state turned to the Supreme Court.

Late Monday, Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt filed an emergency application, hoping to stop same-sex marriage from beginning in the state Tuesday.

— Pete Williams