Stay in 7th Circuit Marriage Decision Requested by Wis. AG

MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen is asking a federal appeals court to stay a ruling that Indiana and Wisconsin's same-sex marriage bans were unconstitutional.

Van Hollen's office said Tuesday it was requesting the stay out of "an abundance of caution."

It says a district court already made clear the ruling is stayed as long as appeals are active or pending. But the office cited media reports in which sources were quoted as saying the appeal court's ruling takes effect in 21 days unless there's a stay.

Van Hollen's filing asks the court to issue a stay protectively to eliminate confusion, until the U.S. Supreme Court can hear the case as anticipated.

The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago granted a similar request Monday by Indiana's attorney general.