Even as the Supreme Court ponders a request by state officials in Alabama to block same-sex marriages in that state, the Eleventh Circuit Court has decided it will take no further action on that constitutional question in any case on that issue that reaches it.

Noting that the Supreme Court last month agreed to rule on the underlying constitutional controversy, the Eleventh Circuit Court chose on its own to hold off any further review of pending appeals on its docket from Alabama and Florida.  It also said it would do the same if it gets an appeal from the other state in its region, Georgia.

Federal trial judges in Alabama and Florida have struck down state bans, leading state officials to appeal to the Eleventh Circuit Court.  Same-sex marriages are already occurring in Florida, and could begin in Alabama as early as February 9 — unless the Supreme Court agrees to the state’s plea to delay any such unions in that state.