Update: Jeff Mapes, reporting from Eugene, has the latest details in this story: Gay marriage: Judge rejects attempt to intervene; ruling to overturn Oregon ban may follow

A U.S. District Court judge in Eugene has denied a motion by the National Organization for Marriage to intervene in Oregon's gay marriage case.

Judge Michael McShane issued his decision Wednesday morning from the bench after an hour of oral arguments. NOM said it would appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The group also said it would seek a stay on any further action by McShane.

After McShane gave his decision, lawyers in the case met with him in his chambers to ask for 24 hours' notice on his decision in the broader case -- whether to overturn Oregon's ban -- so officials could be prepared to conduct same-sex weddings immediately.

The judge offered no signal on whether he would agree to that, or when he might rule in the broader case. If he does decide to overturn Oregon's prohibition, he could let gay weddings proceed immediately, or he could stay any weddings pending appeals.

Wednesday's decision is the latest twist in Oregon's gay marriage case, in which four gay couples filed federal lawsuits seeking to overturn the state's ban. Voters in 2004 passed a constitutional amendment limiting marriages to one man and one woman.

McShane consolidated the lawsuits into one case and heard oral arguments last month. In an unusual feature, no one argued in favor of the ban. Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum, in light of a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year striking down a federal ban on gay marriage, said she would not defend Oregon's prohibition.

The National Organization for Marriage filed a motion to intervene in the case in defense of Oregon's ban; that's the motion that was denied Wednesday.

Senior politics reporter Jeff Mapes is covering the case in Eugene. Come back to oregonlive.com/politics for more updates and details on the decision.

-- Dana Tims, Jeff Mapes