California Gay Marriage Ban Federal Trial – A federal discrimination lawsuit filed by two same-sex couples over the California gay marriage ban, known as Proposition 8, has a federal trial date of January 11, 2010 before Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker in San Francisco.
Judge Walker allowed the City of San Francisco to join the plaintiffs in the case, but refused to allow a coalition of gay rights groups to directly join the lawsuit, including the American Civil Liberties Union, Lambda Legal and the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
Judge Walker also rejected a bid by the conservative Campaign for California Families to join the case to defend Proposition 8, finding that Proposition 8 supporters can defend the law alone.
Judge Vaughn Walker has previously said he wants a full trial to provide the appeals court with a complete record, including testimony related to the history of discrimination against gays and lesbians, the impact of denying marriage rights to same-sex couples and evidence related to whether Proposition 8 had a discriminatory intent.
The plaintiffs are represented by former U.S. Solicitor General Theodore Olson and prominent trial lawyer David Boies.
During the hearing Wednesday in San Francisco, Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker ordered lawyers on both sides of the case to gear up quickly for the January, 2010 trial, which the plaintiffs hope will be the first step in getting the fundamental issues in the legal fight over same-sex marriage before the U.S. Supreme Court.
And that’s the latest news on the California Gay Marriage Ban Federal Trial.
Tags: california gay marriage, gay marriage ban, gay marriage ban federal trial, judge vaughn walker, vaughn walker
August 20th, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Hopefully, this time the federal courts will respect the privacy and dignity of each person’s right to choose one’s own partner in life, regardless of whether a 52% to 48% Proposition 8 “majority” approves of that choice or not…
August 20th, 2009 at 2:21 pm
[...] California Gay Marriage Ban Federal Trial – A federal discrimination lawsuit filed by two same-sex couples over the California gay marriage ban, know [...]
August 21st, 2009 at 7:54 am
No kidding! Life is funny, ain’t it?
September 8th, 2009 at 9:25 pm
It’ll go to the Supreme Court where the ban will be lifted.