Arkansas ' Supreme Court on Friday afternoon stopped any more same-sex marriages in the state , a court spokeswoman said , leaving the legal status of more than 400 gay and lesbian couples who got marriage licenses in limbo . This development stems from 21 couples ' legal challenge of Amendment 83 to the Arkansas Constitution , arguing that it violates their federal and state rights of equal protection and privacy . Pulaski County Circuit Judge Chris Piazza ruled in their favor last Friday . But same-sex marriage was back up in the air after the state Supreme Court said Wednesday it could n't decide whether to grant an emergency stay because Piazza 's decision was `` not final . '' The county judge updated his order Thursday , adding that his decision allowing same-sex marriage took effect immediately . Pulaski County , at least , was issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples by Thursday afternoon . Supreme Court spokeswoman Stephanie Harris told CNN that more than 400 same-sex couples got marriage licenses in the state since last week 's original ruling . She said Friday that the legal status of any of these marriages is unclear . CNN first learned of the state Supreme Court 's issuance of an emergency stay -- which is in effect while its judges consider the appeal of Piazza 's ruling in full -- via Twitter . The Arkansas case is an entirely in-state matter , involving a local county court and the state 's Supreme Court . But it 's similar to a spate of federal rulings in recent months that have struck down other states ' bans on same-sex marriage . In those cases , U.S. district judges ruled that the marriage restrictions violate the federal Constitution 's equal protection guarantee . But none of these decisions are in effect now , because either those judges stayed their rulings pending appeals or appellate courts did the same . There were a few states , including Michigan and Utah , in which same-sex couples married before higher courts stepped in to issue emergency stays . That 's what happened in Arkansas . Carl Tobias , a constitutional law professor at the University of Richmond , said Friday that he expects more challenges in state courts to same-sex marriage prohibitions . Still , Tobias thinks advocates are more likely to take their fight to federal court . `` Plaintiffs have preferred to sue in federal courts in the apparent belief that they are a more favorable venue , or that federal judges will view their rights more broadly , '' said Tobias . Same-sex couples marry in Michigan before court halts licenses . Appeals court scrutinizes Virginia same-sex marriage ban .
A state judge in Arkansas earlier struck down same-sex marriage ban . Arkansas Supreme Court grants a stay , thus preventing more such marriages . Status of couples who got marriage licenses is unclear .