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11th Circuit to Wait on Supreme Court in Gay Marriage Cases

Gay Same Sex Marriage
Posted at 4:15 AM, Feb 05, 2015
and last updated 2015-02-05 04:15:00-05

ATLANTA (AP) — A federal appeals court in Atlanta says it won't act on appeals in same-sex marriage cases until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on the issue.

The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — which handles federal appeals from Alabama, Georgia and Florida — issued the order Wednesday.

The order affects pending appeals in Alabama and Florida, as well as future appeals in a case currently before a federal judge in Georgia.

In Florida, that means same-sex marriages can continue as they have since Jan. 5. A federal judge's order overturning Alabama's gay marriage ban enters into effect Monday.

The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in April and is expected to rule by June. The 11th Circuit says it will resolve any remaining issues within 21 days of that ruling.