CHICAGO (AP) — A Cook County judge on Wednesday denied a request to delay action on a lawsuit seeking to overturn Illinois' ban on same-sex marriage.

The Chicago-based Thomas More Society requested the delay. The public interest law firm opposes gay marriage and wanted the lawsuit delayed pending U.S. Supreme Court action on gay marriage.

The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and New York-based Lambda Legal. It represents 25 couples who were denied marriage licenses in Cook County and challenges a state law that defines marriage as between a man and woman. Illinois has civil unions, but many couples in the lawsuits said civil unions made them feel like second-class citizens.