Utah officials on Tuesday vowed to appeal a ruling declaring the state's gay marriage ban invalid to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The pledge comes after the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver ruled against issuing a stay on the ruling as an appeal moves forward.

Attorneys for the state confirmed to Fox 13 News that they would ask the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who oversees the 10th Circuit Court, is expected to receive the request for an emergency stay on Thursday morning.

“We plan to appeal to the Supreme Court as soon as possible,” said attorney general's spokesman Ryan Bruckman.

Without the Supreme Court's intervention, Utah, home of the Mormon Church, a staunch opponent of marriage equality, will join the 17 states plus the District of Columbia that allow gay couples to marry, at least until the appeals court rules – a process expected to stretch into 2015.

As of Tuesday, 4 counties – Box Elder, Piute, San Juan and Utah – continued to defy the court's order.

According to Salt Lake City's KSL, Utah County Clerk Auditor Bryan E. Thompson was served with a lawsuit for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples.