An attorney for plaintiffs in an ongoing same-sex marriage case on Tuesday filed a motion asking for the state Supreme Court to lift a stay on a lower court's ruling, which found the state's ban on same-sex marriages unconstitutional.
The stay was issued on May 16, 2014, after Pulaski County Judge Chris Piazza struck down Amendment 83 to the Arkansas Constitution, along with a separate statute, the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette previously reported.
The amendment defines marriage as between a man and woman, thus prohibiting gay marriage in Arkansas.
About 600 marriage licenses were issued to same-sex couples before justices suspended the ruling while considering the appeal.
Attorney Cheryl K. Maples argues in the motion that the stay is depriving the couples of their constitutional rights.
Maples also filed a formal response to the state Supreme Court's request for attorneys to provide legal justification on whether the court should grant a second round of oral arguments in the case.
The couples object to another round of arguments and say in the motion that they want the justices who have already argued the case to issue a final ruling.
Read Wednesday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
