State officials in Alaska have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stop, at least temporarily, from allowing same-sex marriage to move forward in the state. A resolution on the ruling could come as soon as Friday.

Last week a federal judge ordered gay and lesbian couples were allowed to apply for marriage licenses and to wed after a typical three-day waiting period. However, everything is on hold for the moment until the highest court issues their decision.

For Alaska, if the justices rule against the state, same-sex marriages could legally take place beginning at 11 a.m. local time Friday.

"The state cannot issue any marriage licenses until the stay is lifted," Alaska's Department of Law said. Many couples began applying for marriage licenses as early as Monday and in certain instances couples were married when they were allowed an expedited consideration.

A stay was then requested by the state, citing that they needed additional time to file detailed appeals to show its government's power to define marriage, and how that sovereign power was being trumped by the courts. Officials such as the state's governor said waiting until larger legal questions are answered is the best decision for Alaskans. The state ban was voted-in by Alaskan residents in 1998.

"Without a stay, the interim licensing of marriages contrary to Alaska law could easily lead to administrative chaos that will harm everyone's interest in the orderly enforcement of domestic relations laws," the state's high court appeal said according to CNN.

However, a handful of same-sex couples sourced a federal appeals court ruling from last week that stated similar bans in Nevada and Idaho as unconstitutional. This appeals court has jurisdiction over a large region of Western states, including Alaska.

The case up for Supreme Court decision is listed as Parnell v. Hamby.