Utah files documents missing from same-sex marriage appeal

The Utah Attorney General's Office on Tuesday filed paperwork with the 10th Circuit Court that was missing from its appeal of a same-sex marriage recognition lawsuit.

The appeals court on Monday filed a "deficiency notice," indicating that state attorneys had failed to file a docketing statement, transcript order and notice of appearance in the same-sex recognition case.

"Please correct the stated deficiencies within 10 days of the date of this notice," states a letter signed by Clerk of Court Elisabeth A. Shumaker.

Missy Larsen, spokesperson for the attorney general's office, said Monday there were merely some attachments missing from the filing, and that they would be filed soon.

Utah is appealing a federal court judge's order that the state must honor and recognize all same-sex marriages performed after another federal judge's ruling toppled Utah's voter-approved ban on such marriages.

In May, Judge Dale A. Kimball ordered Utah to honor and recognize all same-sex marriages performed in the state after fellow federal Judge Robert Shelby in December toppled Utah's voter-approved ban on such marriages.

But less than a month after Kimball's ruling, the state filed a notice in federal court that it would appeal Kimball's order. And on June 6, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals temporarily halted any movement toward marriage recognition.

At that time, the federal appeals court issued an stopgap that would prevent any same-sex couples from applying for marriage benefits in Utah until the court has had a chance to examine the merits of the state's request for a permanent stay.

Kimball argued in his decision that denying married gay and lesbian Utahns of legal spousal benefits was a violation of their Fourteenth Amendment rights.

More than 1,000 same-sex couples were married in Utah during the 17 days that Shelby's ruling was in effect before the U.S. Supreme Court issued a stay.

In connection with Shelby's ruling, the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals last Wednesday in a 2-1 decision upheld Shelby's finding that outlawing same-sex marriage is a violation of the U.S. Constitution.

But the court immediately stayed the implementation of its decision, pending an anticipated appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Utah attorney general's office has said it will initiate that appeal.