SALEM, Ore. (AP) -- The Oregon Court of Appeals on Friday kept an adoption records law from taking effect while it considers whether to continue blocking the law during an appeal.

Foes of the voter-passed initiative measure are appealing a Marion County Circuit Court ruling upholding the law.

The Appeals Court has not officially received the appeal from the foes of the measure. Their ruling will keep the birth records confidential until they get the case and rule on it.

A lawyer for parents who are challenging the law asked the appeals court to block the law during the appeal. The appeals court gave the state until Aug., 12 to respond to that request.

Circuit Judge Paul Lipscomb on July 16 upheld the law approved by voters last November. It gives adoptees the right to see their original birth certificates, which frequently have the names of one or both birth parents.

Lipscomb rejected arguments by opponents of the law that birth mothers who give up babies for adoption have an implied constitutional right to keep their identities secret.