MIAMI (AP) — A federal appeals court has refused to extend past Jan. 5 a stay in a ruling declaring that Florida's ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional.
The Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also said Wednesday it will consider the case on an expedited basis. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi wants to court to reverse a Tallahassee federal judge's decision in August that would strike down the same-sex marriage ban.
In that ruling, U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle said the Jan. 5 date would give enough time for appeals to be considered before any Florida marriage licenses are issued to same-sex couples.
Like many other judges, Hinkle ruled that the gay marriage ban added to the state constitution by voters in 2008 violates the U.S. Constitution's guarantee of equal protection.
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