The ongoing courtroom battle to settle the legality of California's ban on same-sex marriage, Proposition 8, has crossed another hurdle today, as a federal judge has ruled to uphold the decision made previously by Judge Vaughn Walker that the proposition is unconstitutional. more ›

Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, the man who ruled that California's controversial same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional, has publicly confirmed long-running rumors he himself is gay. In yesterday's San Francisco Chronicle, the now-retired judge says he never considered stepping aside from the Proposition 8 case because he believes his sexual orientation was irrelevant to his decision-making. more ›

Monday, December 6th is a date long-awaited by those following the ongoing legal battle over California's Proposition 8, which ostensibly banned same-sex marriage in the state back in November 2008, as that is the date when oral arguments for the appeal of the controversial prop will be heard by a three-judge panel on the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. more ›

The Federal Appeals Court today announced that oral arguments for the appeal of Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California, will be heard at 10 a.m. on December 6th. more ›

[Updated: It appears initial reports from LogoTV and scenes from outside the courthouse were only one part of the story, something that was too early for celebration. As the LA Times explained it, the judge "refused to permanently stay his ruling overturning Proposition 8's ban of gay marriage but extended a temporary hold to give supporters time to appeal the historic ruling." more ›

Although Judge Vaughn Walker last week ruled that Prop 8 was unconstitutional, the inevitable appeal of the case to higher courts put the resumption of gay marriages into question. Walker stayed his order so he could hear from both sides on why or why not marriages should take place in the meantime. Even Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown chimed in, saying gay marriages should resume. Walker's decision should come by noon Thursday. more ›

Now that Prop 8 has been overruled in a federal district court, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown are voicing their opposition to a stay, which is keeping the ban on gay marriages in effect. Judge Vaughn Walker granted the hold on his ruling to accept arguments from gay marriage foes this morning. more ›

Just like Lawyer David Boies warned, Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling to overturn Prop 8 would have critics attacking everything but what's in his 138-page decision. Today the American Family Association called for its members to work towards impeaching Federal District Court Judge Vaughn Walker. more ›

News of U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker's decision to overturn Proposition 8 (today's coverage: 'Overturned', 'What They're Saying', and 'Can't Marry Yet') spread like wildfire online, becoming one of the most rapidly shared documents in internet history. more ›

Thomas Jefferson warned that radical judicial activism would undermine the will of the people. He said, ‘When the people fear their government, there is tyranny.’ Today’s ruling was a direct assault to the over 4.5 million voters in 2000, and the over 7 million who turned out in 2008 to vote on this vital issue.” more ›

Although today's Prop 8 ruling said "California is able to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples," that may not be happening immediately. Supporters of traditional marriage Tuesday night filed papers requesting Federal Judge Vaughn Walker to stay his decision if he ruled banning gay marriage unconstitutional. "A stay is essential to averting the harms that would flow from another purported window of same-sex marriage in California," they wrote. more ›

Judge Vaughn Walker today overturned Proposition 8, which banned gay marriage in California, calling it unconstitutional. "Plaintiffs have demonstrated by overwhelming evidence that Proposition 8 violates their due process and equal protection rights and that they will continue to suffer these constitutional violations until state officials cease enforcement of Proposition 8," Walker wrote in his ruling. "California is able to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, as it has already issued 18,000 marriage licenses to same-sex couples and has not suffered any demonstrated harm as a result." more ›

Tomorrow is the big day. Lawyers from both sides of the issue will present their closing arguments in the federal court case challenging Prop 8, which banned gay marriage in 2008. Additionally, Judge Vauhn Walker asked a series of questions to both sides (some to each side and some for both to answer). One of the questions given to the plaintiffs -- the gay couples challenging the law -- was particularly interesting, considering last week's fine imposed on the Mormom Church: more ›

Closing arguments in the federal case challenging Prop 8, which banned gay marriage in California, will be heard sometime in June. Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker threw out June 16th as a possible date, but an exact date and time will be determined once attorneys and the court hash out their schedules. As for when a decision will be announced, it's up to Walker discretion. He could announce his decision five minutes or five weeks after closing arguments are over. more ›

It's January 11th, 8:30 a.m. and the historic case challenging Proposition 8 is just beginning in San Francisco with opening statements followed by testimony from the plaintiffs, who are two couples that were denied marriage licenses because of Proposition 8. A lot has happened since same-sex marriage was legalized in California back on May 15, 2008; so let's recap and dive into the case. more ›

Following Judge Vaughn R. Walker's decision to allow a court-run camera tape the Prop 8 trial for a delayed upload to YouTube, supporters of the measure that banned gay marriage tried to delay the trial, citing how the move violated federal court rules and would intimidate witnesses called to the stand. more ›

Judge Vaughn R. Walker split the baby today and decided to let the trial against Prop 8, which banned gay marriage in California, be videotaped by the court and uploaded to YouTube later in the day, according to the LA Times. more ›

Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker of the U.S. District Court in Northern California today will hear testimony from both sides about letting cameras into the courtroom in the case against Prop 8, which banned gay marriage in California. Walker is expected to make a decision on Friday, after receiving public input via letters and petitions (we posted about one yesterday). more ›

Foes of gay marriage tried to get a U.S. District Judge to dismiss a case against Proposition 8, a voter-approved initiative that reinstated a ban on gay marriage last November. As expected, Judge Vaughn Walker denied the motion, which means a court case could begin as early as January, according to the LA Weekly. more ›