Calif. Court Won't Stop Gay Marriages

[Guest YFSC]

Calif. Court Won't Stop Gay Marriages

 

(AP) - The California Supreme Court declined a request by the state

attorney general Friday to immediately shut down San Francisco's

gay weddings and to nullify the nearly 3,500 marriages already

performed. At the prodding of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Attorney

General Bill Lockyer asked the court to intervene in the emotionally

charged debate while justices consider the legality of the

marriages. But the justices declined, and told the city and a

conservative group that opposes gay marriages to file new legal

briefs by March 5.

[FrancoDiSantisxxx]

Follow up

 

What is going to happen, legally speaking, is that the two court cases pending in San Francisco (the ones filed by groups against the marriages) will be consolidated, potentially even with the lawsuit filed by the State of California. One of the groups believes that one of the Judges is more favorable to their position but the local trade newspaper for the legal profession did a recent article where lawyers who have appeared before either or both judges feel that both will likely rule very similarly. Once the cases are consolidated, no matter the outcome, it is likely both sides will appeal. At that point, rather than take things to the California Court of Appeals, it is possible that it will go before the state supreme court. However, if any of you desire (or know some gay couples who desire) a marriage license, whether it ultimately ends up being fully valid or not, you would likely have another four to six weeks to make plans to get to San Francisco.

 

One thing that was interesting, at least to me, was the number of letters and e-mails which keep remarking on the "vast majority" or "will of the people" argument against gay marriage. The unrelenting movement of time is more likely to be for change, which may not necessarily come with full acceptance, but just as we will one day have a non-white president as well as a female one, just as surely will gay people be able to marry legally, either with the term "marriage" or without one, but with all the legal rights and responsibilities that such legal relationships confer.