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9th Circuit Says Cameras Allowed in Prop 8 Trial Courtroom
The Day of Decision Protest in Hollywood on May 26 (more photos here) | Photo by Tom Andrews/LAist
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.
It didn't work.
"A three-judge panel the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the challenge, ruling that petitioners failed to demonstrate the case warranted 'extraordinary' intervention," reported the LA Times on Friday.
Rick Jacobs of the Courage Campaign called the ruling "a powerful demonstration of support for transparency of the process" in a statement. "It's time that the debate about marriage equality is seen for what it is -- a debate over the rights of our friends and families to live their lives freely," he said.
The Courage Campaign and CREDO Action gathered 140,671 signatures to support video taping of the trial, which begins on Monday.