Federal judge wants briefs in SC gay marriage case

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A federal judge is asking lawyers for a couple who wants South Carolina to recognize their same-sex marriage and state attorneys to submit briefs after a federal appeals court ruling appeared to clear the way for gay marriage in the state.

Judge Michelle Childs issued her request Tuesday after the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear an appeal of a ruling allowing same-sex marriage by a federal court with jurisdiction over South Carolina. Childs had put the case on hold.

Childs set an Oct. 15 deadline for a schedule of when to present their briefs.

State Attorney General Alan Wilson says he will keep fighting for the ban. Lawyers for the same-sex couple say South Carolina needs to give up a fight they are almost guaranteed to lose.