The California Supreme Court is
expected on Thursday to release its decision on whether supporters of
Proposition 8, California's voter-approved gay marriage ban, have
legal standing to defend the amendment in federal court.
The court announced it would release
its opinion on its website at 10AM.
At issue is whether Protect Marriage,
the coalition of socially conservative groups which put Proposition 8
on the 2008 ballot and last year stepped in to appeal a federal
judge's ruling declaring the law unconstitutional, has the legal
right to defend the amendment in court after state officials refused
to do so.
Chad Griffin, board president of the
American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER), the group formed
specifically to challenge the constitutionality of Proposition 8,
said no matter how the court rules his group wins.
“Here's the great news: No matter
what happens, we win,” Griffin said in an email to supporters.
“Either the Federal District Court ruling that declared Prop. 8
unconstitutional stands as is. Or, our case proceeds on its merits
with the strong likelihood of reaching the U.S. Supreme Court.
Because there is no reason to justify discrimination against gay and
lesbian Americans, we are confident that the higher courts will
affirm our District Court victory.”