Judge Hears Closing Prop 8 Arguments in Time for Wedding Season

By: Megan Kelty
Topics: Domestic Issues ,; State Politics

Opponents of Proposition 8 rally outside the San Francisco Superior Court on Wednesday.

(Credit: CBS/ Megan Kelty )

This post was written by CBS News digital journalist Megan Kelty, who is at the San Francisco Superior Court for today's closing arguments in the legal battle over California's law against same-sex marriage.

Lawyers are back in the courtroom today delivering closing arguments in the legal battle over California's law against same-sex marriage.

The case involves two same-sex couples who sued to overturn Proposition 8, claiming it is a violation of their civil rights. U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker heard 12 days of live testimony last January

The closing arguments were delayed almost five months to give Walker time to review the evidence. The judge opened today's proceedings explaining the delay but said the timing may be fortuitous: "June, after all, is the month for weddings."

Supporters of the challenge rallied outside the courthouse this morning.

Jeff Zarrillo, one of the plaintiffs in the trial told the crowd, "All we're asking the court to do is make sure we're protected under our Constitution like everyone is supposed to be."

This is the first federal trial to examine whether gay marriage bans violate civil rights. The judge could hand down his decision to uphold or strike down the voter-approved ban in a matter of weeks. The case is expected to eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

(Credit: CBS/ Megan Kelty )

(Credit: CBS/ Megan Kelty)

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by ChrisVogel June 17, 2010 7:05 PM EDT: It?s very simple: either you are equal or you are not. As for the importance of marriage, it?s evident from all that has happened that christians, especially conservative ones, are absolutely obesessed with it. Their only interest in civil unions is as a ploy to prevent homosexuals from being married. Otherwise they are opposed to civil unions, or any other recognition of homosexual relationships at all. They have marriage; they don?t want homosexuals to have it, too. This is mean-spirited, vain, and malicious, and is, as it turns out, of what christianity mostly consists in practice.; Reply to this comment