California ponders gay marriage

[Honey]

The California Supreme Court appeared divided over gay marriage during nearly four hours of oral arguments on the contentious issue that experts said could impact gay rights nationwide.

Several of the seven judges asked whether the state legislature might better decide whether matrimony should be limited to a man and a woman, while others pointed to how the same court ended the state ban on marriages between blacks and whites after World War Two.

"I think it's going to be a divided opinion but I wouldn't want to predict who will win," said Christopher Krueger, a lawyer representing the state attorney general who presented arguments before the judges.

The hearing brought into focus the highest-profile US fight over gay rights in recent years and the outcome could end up influencing legislation and litigation in other states on a matter that has been a hot-button issue in election campaigns.

"California's a bellwether state. What happens here, blows east," Larry Bowler, a retired deputy sheriff from Sacramento who opposes gay marriage, said outside the courthouse.

Expecting heated disagreement over a case in which US constitutional questions are at stake, the state's top court scheduled a three-hour session, making a rare exception to its one-hour limit on oral arguments.

But the marathon hearing lasted three hours and 40 minutes, and several people interviewed said it was the longest presentation of oral arguments before the top court they could remember.

"Same-sex couples come here today to praise marriage, not to bury it," said Shannon Minter, a lawyer for clients who favour of gay marriage.

Ninety days to decide

The top court now has 90 days from Tuesday's hearing to issue an opinion.
Six of the judges were appointed by Republican governors and one by a Democrat and the panel is considered politically moderate.

San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom forced the issue by suddenly issuing gay marriage licenses in February 2004.
More than 4,000 homosexual couples took him up on the offer, before a lower court halted the process.

The state Supreme Court, just across the street from City Hall where the gay marriages took place, ruled later that year that Newsom, mayor of a city long at the forefront of the fight for gay rights, had no authority to perform weddings for same-sex couples and voided the marriages.

Gay marriage supporters won an initial battle when a Superior Court judge ruled in their favour in 2005.
The following year a state appeals court judge overruled that decision and backed existing state law.

Californians in 2000 approved a ballot measure defining marriage as the union of man and woman.
But domestic partnership legislation as of 2005 gave registered gay couples many of the same privileges enjoyed by married couples.

California's legislature has voted twice since 2005 to allow gay marriages, but Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, vetoed the bills, saying voters or the courts should decide the issue.

More than half of US states have passed amendments barring same-sex marriage, and President George Bush has proposed a constitutional amendment to do so.

State supreme courts in Massachusetts, New Jersey and Vermont have ruled against limiting marriage to a man and a woman.
Massachusetts became the only US state to allow gay marriage, and New Jersey and Vermont passed civil union laws similar to those in California.

Several other state supreme courts, including those in New York, Washington and Maryland, found that marriage can be limited to one man and one woman.

California's top court ponders gay marriage | WORLD | NEWS | tvnz.co.nz

[Grimmlok]

what the fuck is to ponder? Just fucking do it, ya pussies. Gawd!

[witchcurlgirl]

California's legislature has voted twice since 2005 to allow gay marriages, but Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, vetoed the bills, saying voters or the courts should decide the issue.


Ironic, given his sexual history

[KrisNine]

We were on vacation in San Francisco a few years ago when gay couples were lined up around the block of city hall to get married. They were marrying them all through the night (if memory serves). I was an amazing thing to witness. I just don't get it. Marriage should be between consenting adults who love each other, period.

[msdeb]

this is just another thing that pisses me off about living in California. i wish they'd just do this, quit fucking around. i dont see what the big deal is

[joy0923]

The government should have zero say on who gets married as long as it's adults. This is suppose to be the land of the free.....

[PaintTheTownRed]

Gay couples get married and it should be called marriage. Period. I don't get why people feel the need to stick their noses in the relationships of other people.

[sparkly]

[quote=KrisNine;1087743]We were on vacation in San Francisco a few years ago when gay couples were lined up around the block of city hall to get married. They were marrying them all through the night (if memory serves). I was an amazing thing to witness. I just don't get it. Marriage should be between consenting adults who love each other, period.[/quote]
ITA!