LOGAN – The Cache County clerk’s office re-opened Tuesday and began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. County Clerk Jill Zollinger said her office issued five licenses during the shortened Christmas Eve workday. All of them were issued to same-sex couples.

At the Salt Lake County clerk’s office, same-sex couples were getting married, one every few minutes on Monday.

And they were elated at the news that a federal judge wouldn’t be blocking those weddings from taking place.

Judge Robert Shelby, Monday allowed the weddings to continue — rejecting a request to put them on hold while the state appeals his decision.

But that isn’t the end of the legal wrangling. The state quickly filed a request with the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The same court, in Denver, is likely to hear the full appeal of the case several months from now.

In the meantime, the rush on marriage licenses continues for gay couples around Utah.

One man said he and his partner were in a panic to get married before the judge could stop the issuance of licenses. Adam Blatter said, “We expected Utah to be the last place we could get married.”

A constitutional law professor says that even if the federal appeals court grants a stay, the marriage licenses that have already been issued will probably remain valid.