Federal court stays Wisconsin same-sex marriage ruling

MADISON (AP) — A federal appeals court has stayed a ruling that Wisconsin's gay marriage ban is unconstitutional.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals earlier this month upheld U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb's June ruling that the ban violated gay couples' equal protection rights.

Republican Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is trying to preserve the ban and has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take the case. He has argued that the ban remains in place because Crabb ordered her ruling stayed as long as appeals are active or pending.

Nevertheless, Van Hollen's office asked the 7th Circuit on Tuesday to declare Crabb's ruling officially stayed to avoid confusion. The 7th Circuit complied Wednesday, saying Crabb's ruling is stayed until the Supreme Court refuses to take the case or issues a ruling.

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