Florida's fight to keep gay marriage ban could be costly

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida's fight to keep intact a ban on gay marriage is going to wind up costing taxpayers.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle has ordered the state to pay the fees of attorneys who filed federal lawsuits challenging the state's voter-approved ban.

Hinkle said in an order dated Friday the attorneys were eligible for payment because they were successful in their lawsuit. Hinkle ruled in 2014 that the ban was unconstitutional, but he stayed the ruling until January 2015. Same-sex couples started getting married throughout the state then.

The U.S. Supreme Court legalized gay marriage across the country last June.

The total amount of the fees will be determined later. One attorney filed an initial estimate late last year that his firm was eligible for more than $300,000 in fees.

By GARY FINEOUT.Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
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The Gayly- 4/18/2016 @ 1:55 CDT