LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas’ whirlwind week of granting of marriage licenses to same-sex couples ended Friday when the state Supreme Court ordered a temporary stop.

More than 540 gay couples received marriage licenses during the last week after a Pulaski County circuit judge declared the state’s same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional.

In a one-paragraph order, the high court put on hold Piazza’s decision voiding a 2004 constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman, plus a broader ruling he made Thursday after justices noted that a separate law that barred clerks from issuing same-sex marriage licenses remained on the books.

Some counties were plannng to resume issuing licenses, while others were not.

“It’s been a roller coaster ride,” said Washington County Clerk Becky Lewallen. “We’re issuing, we’re not issuing, we’re issuing, we’re not issuing — it’s been a mess.”

The validity of the licenses that were issued remained uncertain.

Attorney General Dustin McDaniel has said he will appeal Piazza’s ruling; a lawyer for gay couples who sued for the right to marry said he was hopeful justices would take up the case this year.

“The handwriting’s on the wall from the United States Supreme Court,” attorney Jack Wagoner said. “Unless every court is reading the U.S. Supreme Court wrong, the days of barring same-sex couples from marrying are coming to an end.”

McDaniel’s office said the order ended the uncertainty for the state’s clerks.

“As this office stated in its pleadings, a stay prevents confusion and uncertainty until the Arkansas Supreme Court decides this matter on appeal,” said McDaniel spokesman Aaron Sadler.