U.S. Supreme Court

The United States Supreme Court on Wednesday granted an emergency request to block marriages between gay couples in Idaho, just one day after a lower court said those unions should go forward. That could delay a potential ruling overturning Arizona’s gay marriage ban.

In a brief order, Justice Anthony Kennedy approved the request from the state of Idaho, which plans to appeal a ruling in favor of same-sex marriage from the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Kennedy originally ordered a halt to marriages in Idaho and Nevada, but later revised the order to only cover Idaho.

The Ninth Circuit ruling creates precedent for two cases challenging Arizona’s ban on same-sex marriage. Lawyers arguing against the ban plan very soon to file a request asking a federal district court judge to immediately overturn the Arizona ban.

The emergency stay from the Supreme Court makes the timeline for that decision unclear. And it means officials in Idaho won’t yet have to start issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples.

Justice Kennedy gave plaintiffs in the case until 5 p.m. Thursday to respond.