Watch CBS News

Supreme Court justice temporarily blocks same-sex marriage in Kansas

TOPEKA, Kan. - U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor has issued an order temporarily blocking gay marriage in Kansas.

Sotomayor's brief order Monday puts on hold indefinitely a lower-court order clearing the way for same-sex couples to marry despite a ban in Kansas on gay marriage.

The lower-court order was set to take effect at 5 p.m. Central time Tuesday. Sotomayor acted at the request of Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt.

But Sotomayor also directed the American Civil Liberties Union to file a response to Schmidt's request by 4 p.m. Central time Tuesday.

The ACLU filed a federal lawsuit last month for two lesbian couples challenging the state's gay-marriage ban. It resulted in the lower-court order.

Equality Kansas Executive Director Tom Witt said Sotomayor could quickly reconsider once she receives the response.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.