Judge orders temporary halt to same-sex marriages in Wisconsin

MADISON (AP) — Same-sex marriages have been put on hold in Wisconsin by a federal judge who last week struck down the state's gay marriage ban as unconstitutional.

U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb's ruling Friday means that gay marriages, which have been taking place across the state for a week, will end while the case is pending.

CLICK HERE to read the ruling issued on Friday, June 13.

Judge Crabb says in her ruling that putting it on hold is difficult, "After seeing the expressions of joy on the faces of so many newly wedded couples."

Crabb says because the U.S. Supreme Court had put a similar ruling out of Utah on hold, she had to do that in Wisconsin.

Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen requested that Crabb's ruling be put on hold. Crabb last week declared the state's ban unconstitutional but did not tell the state how to proceed. On Friday she issued an order saying the weddings are legal, but then put it on hold per Van Hollen's request.

Van Hollen issued the following statement in regards to Judge Crabb's ruling on Friday:

The Wisconsin Department of Justice will file a notice of appeal with the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago, challenging the District Court’s underlying ruling that portions of Wisconsin’s marriage law and Article XIII, Section 13 of the state constitution violate the federal constitution.

Senate Democratic Leader Chris Larson also issued a statement saying:

All but 12 of Wisconsin's 72 county clerks began issuing licenses to same-sex couples after Crabb's ruling last week, even though Van Hollen had argued that was premature.

Monitor FOX6 News and FOX6Now.com for updates on this developing story.