PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge was expected to make Oregon the latest state to allow gay marriage Monday after state officials refused to defend its constitutional ban in court.

Gay couples were poised to tie the knot immediately after a federal appeals court denied a last-minute request to block the judge's impending ruling that could strike down the state's same-sex marriage ban.

Officials in Oregon's largest county, Multnomah, said they'll begin issuing marriage licenses immediately if U.S. District Judge Michael McShane's decision allows it. McShane hasn't signaled how he'll rule, but both sides in the case have asked that the voter-approved ban be found unconstitutional.

The judge last week denied a request by the National Organization for Marriage to defend the law on behalf of its Oregon members. On Monday morning, the group appealed that denial to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking an emergency stay of the decision.

But the appellate court quickly denied the group's request, clearing the way for same-sex marriages to begin immediately if a McShane's ruling allows it.
In Portland, couples lined up outside the county clerk's office in anticipation of a favorable decision.

http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ruling-expected-monday-oregon-gay-marriage-ban