Utah's attorney general plans to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court a ruling Wednesday that found states must allow gay couples to marry.
Republican Attorney General Sean Reyes' office said in a statement it will file a petition to have the country's highest court review the decision by a three-judge panel of the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver.
The office also left open the possibility of requesting a review from the full panel of judges at the 10th Circuit.
The attorney general's office says even though the 10th Circuit ruling went against Utah, the state is pleased that it moves the important issue one step closer to the Supreme Court.
Utah Gov. Gary Herbert says he's disappointed in a ruling from a federal appeals court Wednesday that Utah's ban on same-sex marriage is unconstitutional.
At a news conference at the state Capitol Wednesday afternoon, Herbert said he expects the state will appeal the matter to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Republican governor says the issue won't be settled for anyone until the Supreme Court rules on the case.
He says he's not sure what it will cost the state to pursue the matter that far but without the Supreme Court weighing in, Herbert says "it will leave a state of chaos."
The governor says the state will abide by whatever the Supreme Court decides but he still believes states have the right to define marriage.
Meanwhile, the couples named in the appeal hugged, cried and exchanged kisses at a news conference outside their attorney's offices in downtown Salt Lake City.
Their attorney, Peggy Tomsic, called the appeals court decision an "absolute victory for fairness and equality."