SALT LAKE CITY — A pair of statements from Utah officials released Saturday expressed displeasure at a federal judge’s ruling that Utah’s Amendment Three is unconstitutional, and officials said they will bring a motion to stay before the judge Monday.
Acting Utah Attorney General Brian Tarbert said in a statement:
“We are vigorously pursuing the appeal and we intend to bring a Motion to Stay before Judge Shelby at 9:00 a.m. Monday morning. If he declines to rule at that time, we have already petitioned the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit for a temporary stay pending Judge Shelby’s decision.”
Gov. Gary Herbert also released a statement in the same email, which reads as follows:
“Yesterday afternoon’s ruling from Judge Robert Shelby of the U.S. Federal Court has created a chaotic situation in our state that requires an expedited judicial resolution. Utahns deserve a fair and complete judicial process and I strongly encourage Judge Shelby to grant the Motion for Stay until the appeal can be heard and Utah’s constitutional defense of traditional marriage restored.”
The statement’s come after other politicians and organizations expressed opposition to Friday’s ruling, which opened the door for same-sex couples to be married in several Utah counties.
Some counties in Utah granted marriage licenses to same-sex couples Friday, while others refused.
Poll: Should same-sex marriages continue in Utah?
Related story: Judge strikes down state’s ban on same-sex marriage, Utahns react.
