The U.S. Supreme Court  put a hold on same-sex marriages in Utah, granting the state’s request for a stay while it appeals an earlier ruling that declared the state's marriage-equality ban was unconstitutional.

The 10th Circuit Court rejected Utah’s request for a stay three times, but an application filed with Justice Sonia Sotomayor on Friday, and passed along to the full court, was approved on Monday. The stay will be in place until the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals makes its decision.

The appellate court has agreed to put a rush on the appeal, with all filings in the case due by the end of February.

On December 20, District Court Judge Robert J. Shelby ruled that there was no clear evidence heterosexual couples were in any way damaged by same-sex marriage. ”In the absence of such evidence," he wrote, the State’s unsupported fears and speculations are insufficient to justify the State’s refusal to dignify the family relationships of its gay and lesbian citizens.”

Since then, the Beehive State has seen more than 1,000 same-sex couples tie the knot. It's unclear what those couples' legal status is during the stay, or should Shelby's ruling be overturned and a ban reinstated.