Judge Strikes Down All Arkansas Bans on Gay Marriage

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas judge has struck down all state laws preventing gay couples from marrying, expanding on his order finding such bans unconstitutional.

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza clarified his ruling on Thursday, a day after the state Supreme Court noted that a prohibition on county clerks issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples still stood. Piazza also denied the state's motion to suspend his decision.

James Porter, right, and his partner Shon DeArmon carry a flag in support of the county issuing marriage licenses for same-sex couples at the Pulaski County Courthouse in Little Rock, Ark., Monday, May 12, 2014. Dozens of gay couples, some of whom waited in line overnight, received licenses to marry from county clerks Monday, while lawyers for the state of Arkansas asked its highest court to suspend an order gutting a constitutional amendment that bans same-sex marriage. (AP Photo/Danny Johnston)

The high court ruling effectively halted gay marriages in the state, with the two counties that had been issuing licenses to same-sex couples saying they'd stop. Pulaski County, the state's largest, said it planned to resume issuing the licenses after Piazza's order.

Piazza had last week struck down a constitutional amendment and an earlier law banning same-sex marriage.

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