(CNN) – Utah will not recognize the
hundreds of same-sex marriages that were temporarily allowed by a federal
judge's ruling but before the Supreme Court issued an injunction, the state
announced Wednesday.
Officials say more than a
thousand marriage licenses between gay and lesbian couples were issued in the
17 days between the initial ruling and the high court's Monday order blocking
enforcement.
"Based on counsel from the Attorney General's Office regarding the Supreme
Court decision, state recognition of same-sex marital status is ON HOLD until
further notice," said the governor's Chief of Staff Derek Miller in a
letter to cabinet officials.
"Please understand this
position is not intended to comment on the legal status of those same-sex
marriages– that is for the courts to decide. The intent of this communication
is to direct state agency compliance with current laws that prohibit the state
from recognizing same-sex marriages."
U.S. District Judge Robert Shelby
concluded on December 20 the decision that a state law banning same-sex
marriage, approved in 2004, conflicted with the constitutional guarantees of
equal protection and due process. That prompted many counties to begin issuing
marriages licenses, but the state then appealed to the Supreme Court.
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