Utah judge: Ruling allowing same-sex marriages still stands By Suzanne Presto and Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN December 23, 2013 -- Updated 2237 GMT (0637 HKT) A federal judge denies Utah's request to stay his decision The judge struck down Utah's same-sex marriage ban last week The state's governor criticized the decision, vowed to "defend traditional marriage" (CNN) -- A federal judge in Utah has denied the state's request to stay his ruling allowing same-sex marriage there. U.S. District Judge Robert J. Shelby's ruling Monday comes three days after he struck down Utah's ban on same-sex marriage. The decision last week drew national attention and sent throngs of couples to Utah clerks offices seeking marriage certificates. Gov. Gary R. Herbert criticized the ruling last week, calling Shelby "an activist federal judge." At the time, Herbert said he was working with his legal counsel and the acting attorney general "to determine the best course to defend traditional marriage within the borders of Utah." Shelby held a hearing on the matter Monday and denied Utah's request to stay his decision, according to Mary Jane McNamee, his courtroom deputy. McNamee told CNN the judge would issue a written ruling later Monday. Utah voters approved a law banning same-sex marriage in 2004. Shelby said the state's "current laws deny its gay and lesbian citizens their fundamental right to marry and, in so doing, demean the dignity of these same-sex couples for no rational reason.