SALT LAKE CITY (TIP): A federal appeals court has granted Utah’s request to delay the implementation of a ruling ordering state officials to recognize more than 1,000 gay marriages that were allowed immediately after the state’s same-sex marriage ban was overturned. The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals issued its decision on Thursday afternoon, prolonging the uncertainty for the gay and lesbian couples who married in December.

The order was set to take effect Monday, based on a ruling in a May from a federal judge who said the state’s decision to freeze benefits was harming the couples. Gov. Gary Herbert and state attorney general Sean Reyes, both Republicans, filed an appeal of that ruling late Wednesday. They requested the stay Thursday.