Florida Judge denies request to lift stay in marriage equality ruling

Monroe County Circuit Judge Luis Garcia has denied a request to lift a stay in his ruling that Florida’s ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional, raccording to CBS Miami.

Plaintiffs Aaron Huntsman and William Lee Jones filed the request.

Judge Garcia ruled last week that the 2008 constitutional ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional under the 14th Amendment's "equal protections" clause.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi immediately filed a notice of appeal, which triggered an automatic stay in the ruling.

In his decision to not life the stay, Garcia wrote: “Based on decisions of the United States Supreme Court and other courts to stay proceedings in similar challenges, this court DENIES the Emergency Motion. The automatic stay, currently in place, shall remain in place until completion of appellate proceedings or until further order of the Court.”