Results tagged “supremecourt”

A long awaited decision announced at 10 a.m. on Prop 8 and 18,000 already-married couples proved mostly a loss for the gay community. In a 6-1 vote, the California Supreme Court ruled that Prop 8 was indeed an amendment and therefore remains law, meaning gay marriage in the state is illegal. However, as expected by many, the 18,000 couples who married during the Rainbow Window last year will remain legally married (the full ruling is embedded below).

At 10 a.m., the California Supreme Court will announce their decision on Prop 8, a ballot initiative that banned gay marriage last November. Two questions will be answered: will Prop 8 be upheld or struck down and if the former, what is the fate of the 18,000 couples already married in the "Rainbow Window," between at three outcomes

The long awaited day will finally come. The Supreme Court will announce their decision on the validity of Prop 8, which banned gay marriage in California, on Tuesday at 10 a.m. Such rulings are generally made on Mondays and Thursdays, but due to the Memorial Day holiday, the ruling will come on Tuesday. Depending on the outcome, celebrations or protests are planned for Tuesday night and a large one next week Saturday in Fresno, of all places. The court's full announcement is below:

The counties of San Bernardino and San Diego tried to fight Prop 215, but were denied an appeal hearing yesterday by the US Supreme Court. They tried to challenge state law, specifically ID cards to protect users from police, saying federal law prohibits use of marijuana. That didn't fly, especially in light of the Obama administration's new stance on state rights in regards to medical marijuana, and the appeal went on deaf ears. "No longer will local officials be able to hide behind federal law and resist upholding California's medical marijuana law," said Joe Elford, lawyer for Americans for Safe Access, to the San Francisco Chronicle.

       

Whether you watched at home, in your office or in public like at West Hollywood's Auditorium, this morning's Prop 8 state Supreme Court hearing was a long three hours as lawyers from both side were hammered with questions from the seven justices.

This is a live video feed showing the California State Supreme court's Prop. 8 hearing, which will go down as a historic civil rights movement when ruled on. It's scheduled to last until noon.

we will stand together," reads a flyer (.pdf) for tomorrow night's event. "Meet at El Pueblo to hear from our legal council, celebrate our families, and unite in solidarity and hope." The 5:30 p.m. event goes to 8 p.m. and organizers urge people to use Metro to arrive (Union Station is right across the street).

Both the California state Assembly and Senate today voted in support HR5, which "challenges the legality of Proposition 8, the voter-approved initiative that declares that marriage is defined as between only a man and a woman," reported the Sacramento Bee.

California's Supreme Court will hear arguments on Thursday regarding the legality of our controversial Proposition 8, which was passed by a small margin in November's election. Many of the same lawyers who spoke in the court just one year ago regarding extending the right to legally marry to same-sex couples are expected to return this week to explain "why California's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage should stand or fall," according to cbs2.com.

The California Supreme Court agreed yesterday to consider Prop 8 opponents' arguments on the validity of the proposition that banned gay marriage in California on November 4th (court motion in PDF here). However, the justices denied a stay that would have let county clerks resume issuing marriage license to gay couples until the case finished.

California Attorney General Jerry Brown today urged the California Supreme Court to review and resolve the Prop 8 cases "promptly." Brown, who believes that same-sex marriages performed between June 17 and November 4, 2008 remain valid and will be upheld by the Court, sides with Prop 8's opposition. However, whatever the outcome of the court will be, Brown is not interested in any temporary solutions: “the public interest would be best served not by issuing a temporary stay, but by an expedited resolution of the important issues raised by the petitions.”

More Prop 8 lawsuits are hitting the California Supreme Court, but still no action has been taken on any of them says the LA Times: "In letters to the court, the Anti-Defamation League and other groups sided with lawsuits that said Proposition 8, which reinstated a ban on same-sex marriage, amounted to a sweeping revision of the state Constitution instead of a more limited amendment. Constitutional revisions can be placed on the ballot only by a two-thirds vote of the Legislature. Proposition 8 reached the ballot as a constitutional amendment after a signature campaign."

Immediately after the Supreme Court's Thursday ruling allowing citizens to own handguns, gun advocates began to talk lawsuits against cities that have restrictions.

              

Tuesday came and went, but not without history being made. Same-sex couples around California signed their marriage licenses, made their vows and rejoiced in a right that they should have had long ago. Hundreds turned out to West Hollywood Park as a new marriage licensing facility opened just that morning. A few quiet protesters showed up, but other than that, the park was full of laughter and smiles. Wandering through the crowd, you could hear certain phrases said over and over again such as "finally," "this is historic," I feel lucky to be part of this," and "can you believe it?"

Now that same-sex marriage is here for a joyful four-point-five months before Californians determine the fate of the institution when voting on the California Marriage Protection Act in November, it's going to be a fight.

      

After a handful of marriages last night (including the couple that challenged the ban on same-sex marriage and got it overturned), this morning marked the beginning of M Day as thousands of couples across the state celebrated love and rights. For Los Angeles, the first official marriage within city limits was officiated by Los Angeles City Council President Eric Garcetti. And this one was close to home: Shane Goldsmith (flower dress) and Monica Granados (shirt/pants) met in 2004 when they were both staff members for Garcetti. It's only fitting that the man that brought them together originally brings them closer on this special day.

                 

LAist Photographer Tom Andrews was there to capture it all, here's what he saw.

The Los Angeles Times conducted a survey of all 58 counties in California asking about policies relating to same-sex marriage. 35 stated that employees were not allowed to opt out of officiating over marriages for any reason; or, at least, no reservations were expressed by clerks in those counties.

The big day has arrived and today, as of 5:01 p.m., the first same-sex couples in California will be married. But like in most counties, Los Angeles County will not officially begin ceremonies until tomorrow morning. Only three counties throughout the state -- Alameda, Sonoma and Yolo -- opted keep offices open after hours to perform marriages.

When officials said counties could begin issuing same-sex marriage licenses at 5:01 p.m. on Monday, June 16, by extending office hours, most still chose to begin the ceremonies on June 17 when it was originally scheduled. Counties that stayed with such action included Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The city of West Hollywood is hosting a town hall-style meeting to discuss "information on the latest legal maneuvers surrounding the gay marriage issue -- including the upcoming November ballot measure that would reinstate the ban and the state Supreme Court's refusal to block same-sex marriages in the interim," according to KCBS. Additionally, Rong-Gong Lin II at the LA Times is taking questions and answering them online.

"The city of Palm Springs invites same-sex couples to come to our welcoming community and experience this historic opportunity," writes Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet on a website encouraging couples to marry in the desert city. "We are prepared to help you with all your wedding needs and embrace you on this, this most wonderful day of your life."

A conglomerate of nine pro same-sex marriage groups released a memo today stating that it would hurt the gay rights movement in the long term if gay couples sued states of the federal government for their marriages to be recognized outside of California because. Such action could open the door to bad court rulings.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has agreed to preside over gay marriages after the ban is lifted at 5:01 p.m. on June 16 -- though, he is scheduled to be in Israel at that time. "I've told a number of couples that I will be happy to preside," the mayor said per Rick Orlov at the Daily News. "I will marry as many people as possible."

Today, the Office of Vital records told all California counties can start issuing same-sex marriage licenses the minute after the California Supreme Court's order goes into effect, which is June 16, 5:01 p.m.

Now that same-sex marriages are legalized in California (they begin June 17), this weekend's 38th annual Los Angeles Lesbian, Gay, Bi, and Transgender Pride celebration will probably have more energy than ever before. From Friday through Sunday, events including the Dyke March, the two-day Christopher Street Festival (with headliners Joss Stone and Olivia Newton John) and the parade, West Hollywood will be abuzz with activity.

The California Supreme Court denied the request to stay same-sex marriages until after a November vote by a 4-3 vote, it was announced today. That means marriages may be commenced starting June 17 throughout California. The order becomes final on June 16 at 5 p.m., according to a press release sent out by the state's Judicial Council.

Today, California Secretary of State Debra Bowen announced (pdf) that the initiative to ban gay marriage through a state amendment change qualifies for the November 4th ballot. 1,120,801 signatures were submitted and enough signatures qualified through a random sample signature check. If passed, the amendment would change California's consitutution to define marriage as a union “between a man and a woman.” One poll said that Californians "narrowly" reject gay marriage.

Despite the uncertainty of gay marriages lasting in California, an upswing in travel and wedding plans is expected to bring a boost to the California economy. It could bring in $370-million, according to the research director at the Williams Institute on Sexual Orientation Law and Public Policy at the UCLA School of Law. The estimate is based on half of the 92,000 same-sex couples in California getting married and using the average of $8,040. This number does not include couples traveling from out of state, who will have to book hotels, rent cars and pay for other services during their stay.

Ten states have approached California to ask the state's Supreme Court to stay the ban on same-sex marriages until voters make a decision at the November election. "The attorneys general said they have an interest in the case because they would have to determine if their states would recognize the marriage of gay residents who wed in California," KNBC reported. "They want the court to stay its ruling until after the November election, when voters likely will decide whether to amend the state constitution to ban gay marriage."