On Aug. 20, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to delay an appeals court ruling striking down Virginia's marriage-equality ban.
The nation's highest court, in McQuigg v. Bostic, granted a request from a county clerk in northern Virginia to delay a 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decision that would have allowed for same-sex couples to marry beginning Aug. 21.
The state would have also had to start recognizing same-sex marriages from out of state if the Supreme Court had denied the request.
The court provided no explanation for its order.
In a statement, Lambda Legal Senior Attorney Tara Borelli said, "Because the Court decided to grant the stay, we hope the case is accepted for full review as quickly as possible in order to minimize the harm that would be caused by the delay of the Fourth Circuit decision.
"Lambda Legal will do everything in our power to make sure this issue is decided as quickly as possible so same-sex couples can marry in Virginia."