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Lawyers For Same Sex Couples: Don't Suspend Gay Marriage Ruling

Attorneys for a group of same-sex couples are asking Arkansas' highest court to reject efforts to suspend a judge's ruling striking down the state's gay marriage ban.

Attorneys for the couples asked the state Supreme Court Tuesday to deny motions to stay Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza's decision regarding the 2004 constitutional amendment and 1997 law banning same-sex marriage.

The attorney general and four counties named in the suit have asked justices to suspend Piazza's ruling.

About 300 same-sex couples have received marriage licenses since Piazza's ruling, though two of the four counties that had been issuing the licenses said Tuesday they would stop.

The attorneys argue the state hasn't shown irreparable harm will result if Piazza's order stands.

Meanwhile Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe says it'll be up to the Arkansas Supreme Court to decide whether hundreds of marriage licenses issued to same-sex couples are valid while the state defends its gay marriage ban.

Beebe also dismissed the suggestion by some Republican lawmakers that Judge Piazza be impeached for his ruling, saying that process shouldn't be used if someone disagrees with a judge's decision.

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