( CNN ) -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday granted a request to delay enforcement of an appeals court ruling that overturned Virginia 's same-sex marriage ban . That means gay and lesbian couples can not legally wed in the state for now . The Richmond-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit last month struck down Virginia 's voter-approved ban , following what other state and federal judges have done in the past year when finding such laws to be unconstitutional . The high court in coming weeks or months will announce whether it will have the final word , and accept pending petitions from one or more various states , including Virginia , to review their bans on same-sex marriage . A binding ruling from the justices on the constitutional issues would be one of the most contentious and closely watched from the Supreme Court in recent years , and could apply to all 31 current states that forbid same-sex marriage . Judges hear four states defend same-sex marriage bans . Virginia 's situation was somewhat unique since the state 's governor and attorney general have refused to defend the ban in court . That left the court clerk in Prince William County -- a suburb of Washington -- to ask the high court for temporary legal relief . Lawyers for the clerk applauded the Supreme Court 's intervention . `` Virginians deserve an orderly and fair resolution to the question of whether they will remain free to preserve marriage as the union of a man and a woman in their laws , '' said Byron Babione , senior counsel of the Alliance Defending Freedom . `` The Supreme Court acted wisely in restraining the lower court from implementing a ruling of this magnitude before the high court has a chance to decide the issue . '' But Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring also supported postponing any same-sex marriages until the issue is fully settled . `` Although it is painful to keep Virginia 's same-sex couples and their children waiting any longer to enjoy the rights guaranteed by the Fourteenth Amendment , the rule of law requires that this court be afforded the time needed to settle the question , '' said Herring . The appeals ruling covered marriage laws in those states within the court 's jurisdiction : Virginia , Maryland , West Virginia , North Carolina and South Carolina . Only Maryland has legalized same-sex marriage . The divided three-judge panel had concluded that same-sex marriage `` makes some people deeply uncomfortable . However , inertia and apprehension are not legitimate bases for denying same-sex couples due process and equal protection of the laws . '' Gay rights groups urged swift action from the justices . `` This Supreme Court 's stay of yet another freedom to marry ruling underscores the urgency of the court 's granting a full review and bringing the country to national resolution by next year , '' said Evan Wolfson , president of Freedom to Marry . `` It is time for the Supreme Court to affirm what more than thirty courts have held in the past year : marriage discrimination violates the Constitution , harms families , and is unworthy of America . '' The Virginia prohibition has effectively been in place since Colonial days , but only incorporated into the state 's constitution in 2006 . Elton John : Jesus would support same-sex marriage . The appeals decision continued a near-unbroken string of state and federal court victories nationwide in the past year , giving marriage-equality supporters unbridled encouragement that their ultimate goal will be achieved : striking all laws limiting the rights of homosexuals to wed . The issue has been moving swiftly in the judicial front . A federal appeals court on August 6 heard arguments in same-sex marriage bans in four states : Ohio , Michigan , Kentucky , and Tennessee . A ruling is due by year 's end . A separate appeals court early next month will hear two other Western states defend current prohibitions : Idaho and Nevada . , and Oregon . Same-sex marriage is legal in 19 U.S states plus the District of Columbia : California , Connecticut , Delaware , Hawaii , Illinois , Iowa , Maine , Maryland , Massachusetts , Minnesota , New Hampshire , New Jersey , New Mexico , New York , Oregon , Pennsylvania , Rhode Island , Vermont , and Washington state . The challenge to Virginia 's ban was brought by several plaintiffs , including Timothy Bostic and Tony London of Norfolk .
Supreme Court stays enforcement of decision overturning Virginia gay marriage ban . The court is expected to hear arguments in the case on Monday and issue a ruling by June 26. The Supreme Court could have the final word on same-sex marriage bans .