MISSOURI: Marriage Plaintiffs File Notice Of Cross-Appeal To Eighth Circuit

The plaintiffs in one of Missouri's marriage equality cases have filed their notice of a cross-appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court. On Friday the state filed their notice. The initial stayed ruling on the ACLU's case came on November 7th, at which time Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster promised to appeal. That stay was due to expire today if no appeals were filed. Both Koster and Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon say they support same-sex marriage. In a separate ruling, same-sex marriage remains legal in St. Louis and those marriages are recognized statewide. Also last week, GOP lawmakers filed an attempt to gain standing to appeal the ruling that forces Missouri to recognize out of state marriages.

MISSOURI: Federal Court Denies Motion To Lift Stay On Same-Sex Marriage

The stay expires on December 9th and no appeal has yet been filed. However Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster declared on the day of the ruling that he will appeal to the Eighth Circuit Court. Marriage licenses continue to be issued in St. Louis only and they are valid statewide. (Via Equality Case Files)

BREAKING: Missouri! (But Stayed)

Read the ruling.

UPDATE: Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster is appealing to the Eighth Circuit Court.

MISSOURI: AG Won't Appeal Ruling On Out-Of-State Marriage Recognition

Here's a domino that we probably did not anticipate falling today.

Attorney General Chris Koster today released the following statement: "The circuit court's judgment in Barrier v. Vasterling held that Missouri must recognize marriages lawfully entered into in other states. We will not appeal that judgment. Our national government is founded upon principles of federalism – a system that empowers Missouri to set policy for itself, but also obligates us to honor contracts entered into in other states. A consequence of this morning's ruling by the United States Supreme Court is that gay marriage will soon be legal in as many as 30 states. At a time when Missouri is competing to attract the nation's premier businesses and most talented employees, we should not demand that certain individuals surrender their marriage licenses in order to live and work among us. Missouri's future will be one of inclusion, not exclusion."

Back in June, Koster threatened to sue the city of St. Louis after four gay couples married in the office of Mayor Francis Slay. Missouri is under the jurisdiction of the Eighth Circuit Court, which has not yet ruled on same-sex marriage. Koster, a Democrat, has said that he personally supports marriage equality but would defend his state's ban. Until today, that is.