March 12, 2014
Hearing for Gay Couples Suing Utah Over Benefits
Jason St. Amand READ TIME: 1 MIN.
A federal judge is set to hear arguments Wednesday morning from four same-sex couples suing Utah over its decision to stop granting benefits to newly married gay couples.
The American Civil Liberties Union filed the lawsuit in January saying the state's decision violates the couple's vested rights.
Utah state officials say they have no choice but to hold off on benefits until a federal appeals court rules on the state's same-sex marriage ban. That court has a hearing set for April 10.
More than 1,000 gay and lesbian couples married in Utah after a federal judge overturned the state's same-sex marriage ban Dec. 20.
Those weddings came to a halt Jan. 6 when the U.S. Supreme Court granted Utah an emergency stay.
