Legal News

State High Court: Same-sex marriage hearing next month

By Jason Siegel

The California Supreme Court scheduled a hearing on March 4 over the constitutionality of banning same-sex marriage, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The case (In re Marriage Cases) involves four same-sex couples and the city of San Francisco who are challenging the marriage restriction and two private organizations who are countersuing. The justices will have 90 days to rule.

Amicus briefs supporting same-sex marriage were submitted to the court last September by the Los Angeles Bar Association, the Beverly Hills Bar Association, California Women Lawyers, American Civil Liberties Union, the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers, the California Women's Law Center, Lamda Legal and Lesbian & Gay Lawyers Association of Los Angeles, over 90 civil rights organizations, 20 California cities and counties and many others.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office will argue that discriminating against minorities based on sexual orientation shouldn't be judged as harshly as discrimination based on race and sex, according to the Chronicle.  Schwarzenegger twice vetoed bills to allow same-sex marriage saying in October that the decision should be left to the state Supreme Court.

The state Attorney General's office will argue that domestic-partner laws satisfy that state's constitutional requirement.

San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer ruled in favor of same-sex marriage in April 2005, but the court of appeal overturned the decision in a 2?1 ruling.

The California Supreme Court hearing will begin at 9 a.m. and be televised on the California Channel.

Full post as published by Legal Pad | LA on February 07, 2008 (boomark / email).