Utah asks high court to delay gay marriage benefits

FILE - In this Friday, Dec. 20, 2013 file photo, Chris Serrano, left, and Clifton Webb embrace after being married, as people wait in line to get licenses outside of the marriage division of the Salt Lake County Clerk's Office in Salt Lake City. A federal judge on Monday, Dec. 23, 2013 is set to consider a request from the state of Utah to block gay weddings that have been taking place since Friday when the state's same-sex marriage ban was overturned. (AP Photo/Kim Raff, File)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Utah is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to extend a stay that’s preventing more than 1,000 same-sex couples from getting state benefits.

Utah filed its appeal Wednesday, arguing that benefits should be delayed while the larger issue of the marriage ban makes its way through the courts.

Utah’s same-sex marriage ban was struck down in December and many couples got married before the U.S. Supreme Court ordered a halt.

In May, a different federal judge ruled Utah must grant benefits – such as child custody – to those couples, but the decisions was put on hold.

Last week, the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied Utah’s request for an indefinite delay and gave Utah until July 21 to ask the Supreme Court to weigh in.

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