Appeals court clears way for Supreme Court ruling on Prop. 8
A federal appeals court Tuesday rejected an appeal of February’s ruling that overturned Proposition 8, a move that is likely to send the debate over same-sex marriage to theU.S. Supreme Court.
The decision by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals paves the way for a high court decision on gay marriage by next year.
Proposition 8, passed by California voters in November 2008, reinstated a ban on same-sex nuptials six months after the state Supreme Court had struck it down on state constitutional grounds. The ballot measure amended the state constitution. Two same-sex couples then sued in federal court, contending that Proposition 8 violated the U.S. Constitution.
A three-judge panel ruled 2-1 in February that the ban violated federal constitutional guarantees but limited the effect of the ruling to California. Sponsors of Proposition 8 asked the 9th Circuit to assemble an 11-judge panel to rehear the case.
-- Maura Dolan in San Francisco for the Los Angeles Times