Appeals court temporarily blocks gay marriage in Alaska

(Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Wednesday put gay marriage temporarily on hold in Alaska so the state can appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court over a judge's decision overturning its ban on same-sex matrimony. The decision by a three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals reinstates Alaska's ban on gay marriage until Friday at noon Pacific Time to give the state sufficient time to seek a more lasting ruling from the Supreme Court, according to court papers. Judge Timothy Burgess of the U.S. District Court for Alaska on Sunday ruled the state's ban on same-sex marriage, which was approved by voters in 1998, was unconstitutional. The decision followed a flurry of federal court rulings on same-sex marriage. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Oct. 7 struck down same-sex marriage bans in Nevada and Idaho. A day earlier, the U.S. Supreme Court surprised observers by leaving intact lower court rulings that struck down gay marriage bans in five other states. The back-and-forth federal court actions could soon see legal same-sex marriage extended to 35 states. (Reporting by Alex Dobuzinskis; Editing by Michael Perry)