Briefly: Burbank couple file legal brief over gay marriage

Burbank residents Jeff Zarrillo and Paul Katami and two other plaintiffs in the landmark equal protection case following the passage of Proposition 8 filed a brief in the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals opposing the appeal of an earlier ruling that overturned the voter-approved measure.

Attorneys for Zarrillo and Katami argued in the filing that proponents of Proposition 8 lack the standing to appeal U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker’s decision. They also argued that Proposition 8 violates due process, as there has been no “compelling state interest” demonstrated.

The appellate court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on the challenge on Dec. 6.

The members of the three-judge panel who will hear arguments have not yet been announced.

Council confirms arts commission members

Although three members of the City Council initially expressed interest in expanding the number of appointments to the newly approved Cultural Arts Commission, only the recommended nine were voted for on Tuesday.

All applicants who received at least three votes from the council were among the first appointees to the commission, set up to have a significant role not only in Burbank’s upcoming Centennial, but in the future direction of public arts in the city.

There were 16 applicants for the commission.

The council appointed Peggy Flynn, Edward Arno, Alice Asmar, Cynthia Pease, Lynda Willner, Jan Osborn, Robert Shahnazarian, Barbara Beckley and Eva Sippel to the Burbank Cultural Arts Commission for staggered terms of two to four years. Mayor Anja Reinke and Vice Mayor Jess Talamantes were appointed as liaisons to the commission.