( CNN ) -- A federal appeals court ruled late Friday that about 1,300 gay and lesbian marriages performed earlier this year must be recognized by Utah . However , the judges stayed their order until July 21 to give the state time to file an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court for emergency action . The justices would be asked to delay recognition of those same-sex marriages until the overall constitutional issue is fully decided by the high court , a process that may not happen for a year or more . The same appeals court late last month ruled Utah 's voter approved Amendment 3 violated the equal protection rights of same-sex couples . The law currently defines marriage only between one man and one woman . A group of plaintiffs then asked the court to order the state to recognize those marriage licenses already issued in December and January . About 1,300 same-sex couples obtained marriage licenses in the 17 days after a federal judge ruled on December 20 that Utah 's ban was unconstitutional . Those marriages were stopped after a temporary stay was put in place by the Supreme Court . That was the issue in Friday 's court action . Colorado 's same-sex marriage ban should n't stand , judge rules .
Same-sex marriage got go-ahead in Utah for 17 days last year . Appeals court says marriages performed then must be recognized . The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the issue this summer.