Legal News

Same-sex marriage supporters ask high court to block initiative

By Jason Siegel

Supporters of same-sex marriage filed a legal brief asking the California Supreme Court to block a November ballot initiative that would change the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

They argue in the brief that the initiative isn't an amendment, which can be approved by a majority vote, but a revision of the state Constitution that requires legislative approval, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The brief also claims signers of the ballot measure were inaccurately told that it would not change existing California marriage law, if passed, Cal Law's Legal Pad reported. Read their full story on the brief here.

The Alliance Defense Fund, who support the ballot initiative, said in a press release that backers of the brief "are desperate to evade democracy...trying to silence the people's voice forever...to force a radical political agenda upon the people of California."

Because the secretary of state already certified the amendment for November, only a judge can remove it, CBS 8 reported.

The court will rule on the petition by the summer's end, the Times reported.

Equality California press release
Alliance Defense Fund press release1

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on June 23, 2008 (boomark / email).