The US Supreme Court postponed their decision on whether to hear gay marriage cases this term or not. 

Five same-sex marriage suits were omitted from a list that the justices issued detailing actions taken on pending cases on Friday.

The Huffington Post noted that the gay marriage cases could be discussed in a future session, and a final decision on whether the Court will hear the cases this term could come next week. 

Gay marriage is legal in 36 states, and the high court's ruling would affect pending litigation in the remaining 14 states.

In October, the justices decided not to address the gay marriage lawsuits, but a federal appeals court upheld the gay marriage bans in four different states.

Gay marriage has been an increasingly contentious issue in the US over the past two years, and gay marriage bans have been reversed or are in litigation in all 50 states. Appeals in Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Louisiana, and Tennessee are at the Supreme Court level.

In November, six North Carolina magistrates abruptly resigned over gay marriage legalisation in their state.

According to The Christian Post, the Christians resigned because they believe gay marriage is contrary to their faith, and they do not want to conduct same-sex ceremonies. 

One of the magistrates, Bill Stevenson of Gatson County, said that it would have been a sin to preside over the unions. 

"It was something I had to do out of conscience," he told WCNC. "I felt like to perform same-sex unions would be in violation of the Lord commands, so I couldn't do that. 

"I hate to wax it so biblical but the Bible says 'What good is it for a man to gain the whole world but lose his own soul,' so that's the stakes I put on this." Stevenson had been a magistrate for about 18 months.

Gay marriage advocate Rick McDermott said the magistrates' rights are not being trampled upon.

"While we understand people have their own religious beliefs, we don't think this is about religious discrimination," he said. "It's really more so about the magistrates doing their job and following the law."

North Carolina Senator Phil Berger (R-Rockingham) has spoken out in defense of the Christian magistrates, and plans to draft a bill protecting magistrates from having to issue marriage licenses or conduct marriage ceremonies for gay couples.