Supreme Court allows same-sex marriages in Kansas

The Supreme Court has ruled same-sex marriages can begin in Kansas while a lower court considers a case against existing state law. Last week, federal district Judge Daniel Crabtree issued a preliminary injunction against the Kansas constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between one man and one woman. A full suit on the case is pending, but Crabtree’s ruling means same-sex couples can receive marriage licenses in the meantime.

Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt appealed the ruling and requested an emergency stay from the Supreme Court. Justice Sonia Sotomayor put Crabtree’s ruling on hold while the high court reviewed the case. It issued only a brief order announcing its decision, with Justices Antonin Scalia and Clarence Thomas dissenting.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.