NEW : A county clerk says he asked for a stay ` ` because it 's cruel to lock up people '' NEW : Gay rights groups support the stay , while adding the legal battle is n't necessarily over . California 's Supreme Court declines to immediately halt same - sex marriages in state . The U.S. Supreme Court paved the way for such marriages in a key decision last year .
NEW : A county clerk says he asked for a stay `` because it 's cruel to set up people '' NEW : Gay rights groups cheer the ruling , while adding the legal battle is n't necessarily over . California 's Supreme Court declines to immediately halt same-sex marriages in state . The U.S. Supreme Court paved the way for such marriages in a key ruling last month .