Couples: Deny Stay in Arkansas Gay Marriage Case

Lawyers representing couples who are challenging Arkansas' gay-marriage ban are asking the state Supreme Court to deny the state's request to delay proceedings until the U.S. Supreme Court takes up a similar same-sex marriage case.

A judge in Pulaski County threw out the state's ban on gay marriage in May, and more than 500 same-sex couples received marriage licenses before the state's high court issued an emergency stay. Since then, attorneys for the state have asked the Arkansas Supreme Court to suspend proceedings until the U.S. Supreme Court weighs in on a similar case.

In a court filing Friday, attorneys representing the couples argued that the state showed no proof it'd be harmed if the stay was lifted.

A similar filing was made last week in federal court.

This story is part of our special report: "Gay Marriage". Want to read more? Here's the full list.