Salt Lake City (AP) —The state of Utah is formally asking the U.S. Supreme Court to uphold its ban on gay marriage.
Utah officials announced last month it would take its case straight to the high court rather than asking for a review from the appeals court. On Tuesday, the state filed its official appeal.
A federal appeals court in Denver ruled in June that states cannot deny same-sex couples the fundamental right to marry. The ruling upheld a December decision by a federal judge overturning the state ban.
Attorney General Sean Reyes said in a statement Tuesday he hopes the case is resolved quickly.
Utah is the first state to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review a gay marriage ban since justices last year struck down part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act.
