US high court justice blocks Kansas gay marriage

Topeka, Kan. (AP) — 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.

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The Gayly – November 10, 2014 @ 5:45pm