MONTGOMERY – Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange has filed an appeal and a motion to stay a federal court order overturning Alabama’s definition of marriage as between one man and one woman.

Attorney General Strange filed the appeal and motion to stay with the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Monday. The actions follow the Attorney General’s request to stay the U.S. District Court’s January 23, 2015, ruling. U.S. District Judge Callie Granade of Mobile granted the stay request on January 25, 2015, for a period of 14 days to allow the State of Alabama time to appeal to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals.

“My office has filed an appeal and a motion to stay the federal District Court’s decision and we are preparing our case to defend Alabama’s laws prohibiting same-sex marriage,” said Attorney General Luther Strange. “Unfortunately, the District Court’s ruling to strike down Alabama’s marriage laws has created uncertainty and confusion among the public over the law. My office has moved quickly to bring the issue before the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to ensure that Alabama’s laws are defended. Ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to address the issue of same-sex marriage in a few months.”