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Utah AG: No decision yet on appeal of same-sex marriage recognition

Posted at 11:26 AM, May 28, 2014
and last updated 2014-05-28 13:26:21-04

SALT LAKE CITY — In his first comments since a federal judge ordered the state to recognize more than 1,200 same-sex marriages performed here, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes said they have yet to decide if they will appeal.

U.S. District Court Judge Dale Kimball ordered Utah to recognize marriagesperformed after another federal judge overturned Amendment 3, the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. Kimball gave Utah 21 days to appeal his order to the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.

“I think the judge was wise in giving us time to assess that,” Reyes told FOX 13 on Tuesday. “We haven’t made any decisions yet. We’re looking at all of our options.”

Utah has until June 9 to decide.

Governor Gary Herbert told FOX 13 earlier this month he would meet with Reyes to decide if it was even worth an appeal.

The ACLU of Utah sued the state on behalf of four gay and lesbian couples who married during the 17-days it was allowed after Amendment 3 was struck down by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Shelby.

Utah is in the midst of an appeal of that decision. The 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals could rule any day on its constitutionality.

RELATED: Read the court documents filed in the Amendment 3 appeal