Arkansas' highest court has denied a request by same-sex couples challenging the state's gay marriage ban that any justices planning to seek re-election recuse themselves from the case.
The Arkansas Supreme Court on Thursday denied the motion asking any justice expecting to run for re-election anytime in the future to consider not hearing the appeal of a state judge's decision striking down the state's ban on same-sex marriage. The court did not elaborate on the reason for the denial.
The couples had argued that a legislative resolution supporting the prohibition could sway their opinion. Pulaski County Judge Chris Piazza struck down the ban earlier this year, which led 541 gay couples to receive marriage licenses before Piazza's ruling was suspended by the state Supreme Court.
