( CNN ) -- Nevada wo n't defend its ban against same-sex marriage , saying its legal position has been `` undermined '' in a series of rulings that began last June with a historic U.S. Supreme Court ruling recognizing gay marriages . The state 's decision comes in a case filed by eight same-sex couples represented by the gay rights group Lambda Legal . The case challenged Nevada 's constitutional amendment banning marriage for gay and lesbian couples , the group said . A federal court judge dismissed the suit in 2012 at Gov . Brian Sandoval 's request , but Lambda Legal appealed that ruling to the federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals . Since then , the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a key part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act that had denied to legally married same-sex couples the same federal benefits provided to heterosexual spouses . A subsequent 9th Circuit Court ruling in an unrelated case persuaded Nevada to abandon its defense of the gay marriage ban , Nevada officials said . That recent case involved a preemptory challenge to strike a prospective juror in a trial because he was gay , but the 9th Circuit ruled that discriminatory classifications based on sexual orientation must receive heightened scrutiny and should be presumed unconstitutional , Lambda Legal said . `` After thoughtful review and analysis , the state has determined that its arguments grounded upon equal protection and due process are no longer sustainable , '' Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said in a statement Monday . Gov . Sandoval agreed with the attorney general 's decision to drop its defense of the gay marriage ban . `` Based upon the advice of the attorney general 's office and their interpretation of relevant case law , it has become clear that this case is no longer defensible in court , '' Mary-Sarah Kinner , a spokeswoman for the governor , said Tuesday . A Lambda Legal attorney praised the governor 's decision . `` The governor has recognized that the writing is on the wall , and that arguments seeking to perpetuate discrimination are becoming extremely difficult to justify , '' Lambda Legal Senior Attorney Tara Borelli said in a statement . `` Denying marriage to same-sex couples serves no legitimate state interest and is intended solely to perpetuate discrimination . '' The state 's withdrawal leaves only the Coalition for the Protection of Marriage , which a lower court allowed to intervene , defending the marriage ban in federal appeals court , Lambda Legal said . The coalition was n't immediately available for comment Tuesday . U.S. expands legal benefits , services for same-sex marriages . CNN 's John Newsome contributed to this report .
Series of court rulings prompt Nevada to stop defending ban against gay marriage . The state 's ' ` ` are no longer sustainable , '' says attorney general . Governor says the state 's ` ` case is no longer defensible in court , '' spokeswoman says . Lambda Legal , whose clients challenged Nevada , appealed state 's decision .