Updated 12/3/14 3:40PM - The 11th District Court of Appeals has denied the state’s request to extand a stay on same-sex marriages. That means the stay, put in place by U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle expires Jan. 5. That stay is the only thing standing between same-sex Florida couples and marriage.

Click here to read the 11th Circuit Court's order.



“Appellants’ request for expedited review of the Motion is granted,” the Dec. 3 ruling reads. “Having reviewed and fully considered the Motion, the parties’ briefs, and the orders issued by the District Court in the proceedings below, the Court hereby denies Appellants’ Motion. The stay of preliminary injunctions entered by the District Court expires at the end of the day on January 5, 2015.”

“Despite all the efforts by Rick Scott and Pam Bondi to prevent loving couples from exercising their constitutional right to marry the person of their choice, unless the US Supreme Court intervenes, and we think it is unlikely, marriages will start in Florida after January 5,” said Mary Meeks, an Orlando attorney who is part of the legal team in one of Florida’s court cases fighting for marriage equality.

Hinkle put the stay on his August ruling that Florida’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.

From out media partner Watermark: