Will Florida Marriage Case Be Rushed To Supreme Court?

A Key West couple's challenge for the right to legally wed in Monroe County is vying to be expedited to the Florida Supreme Court.

Earlier this month, Judge Luis M. Garcia of the Monroe County Circuit ruled that Key West bartenders Aaron Huntsman and William Lee Jones should have the right to marry. They brought the suit challenging Florida's 2008 marriage ban, against Monroe County Clerk Amy Heavilin in April after they were refused a marriage license.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi issued an emergency notice of appeal immediately following Garcia's ruling. According to Florida state law, the appeal triggered an automatic stay on the decision.

Huntsman and Jones' attorneys filed a suggestion Monday to the Third District Court of Appeal for a "pass through" jurisdiction to send the appeal directly to the Florida Supreme Court, Local 10 News reports.

Bernadette Restivo, who co-represents Huntsman and Jones, told The Tampa Bay Times this would "bring this case quicker to finality. It's going to apply this case, one way or another, to the entire state of Florida, once the Supreme Court rules on it."

Last week, a Miami-Dade judge made the same ruling to allow six couples the right to marry in the state of Florida.