Fed court delays same-sex marriage appeal hearing

A federal appeals court hearing on the state of Indiana's request to overturn a ruling that found Indiana's law banning same-sex marriage unconstitutional has been delayed.

The hearing, which had been on an expedited schedule, was set for Aug. 13.

Tuesday, however, the court canceled that date.

It is not immediately clear why the court took that action, but one possible factor is the state's request last week to have the appeal heard by all 10 of the judges on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, rather than a three-judge panel.

Having the full court hear the appeal could expedite the process that is likely to take the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.

In June, U.S. District Judge Richard Young ruled the state's law that limits marriage to one man and one woman, and that denies recognition of gay marriages conducted legally in other states, violated the constitution.

In the three-day window after Young's ruling during which same-sex marriage was legal in Indiana, hundreds of gay couples rushed to courthouses and were wed.

State officials turned to the 7th Circuit Court to appeal Young's ruling and obtained a stay that stopped the marriages, pending the outcome of the appeal.

No new date for the hearing has been set.

Call Star reporter Tim Evans at (317) 444-6204. Follow him on Twitter: @starwatchtim