A federal appeals court on Monday
denied Michigan's request for an en banc review of a lower court's
ruling declaring the state's ban on gay marriage unconstitutional.
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette
asked the court for a full 15-judge review of the case. Most cases
are first appealed to a 3-judge panel. But Schuette argued that
removing the step would quicken the appeals process and save the
state money.
In a
unanimous decision, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in
Cincinnati denied the state's request.
U.S. District Judge Bernard Friedman's
March 21 ruling declaring the marriage ban invalid, lead to clerks in
four Michigan counties marrying more than 300 gay couples on the
following day, a Saturday, before the appeals court suspended
Friedman's decision as the state pursues an appeal.
While the federal government has said
it will recognize the marriages as valid, Governor Rick Snyder said
the state will not. The ACLU filed a lawsuit seeking to force
Michigan to recognize the marriages.
The ACLU
is also suing Utah for not recognizing more than 1,300 gay
couples who married after the state's ban was struck down in
December.