Lawyers preparing to argue before the
Supreme Court against Proposition 8, California's gay marriage ban,
are seeking the Obama administration's support.
According to Reuters,
Theodore Olson and David Boies, the lawyers representing two gay
couples who are asking the court to declare the ban unconstitutional,
on January 18 pitched their case to Solicitor General Donald Verrilli
and other top Obama administration lawyers.
Charles Cooper, who represents Protect
Marriage, the coalition of groups defending the law, on Thursday
asked the government to stay out of the case.
About 20 government lawyers, mostly
from the Justice Department, attended each 1-hour meeting.
During his inaugural speech, President
Barack Obama reiterated his support for marriage equality. However,
the following day, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney suggested
Obama does not favor getting involved in the case, saying that “he
believes that it's an issue that should be addressed by the states.”
The administration has never taken a
position on Proposition 8's constitutionality, though Obama has said
he's opposed to such bans.
The administration must decide by next
month whether to get involved in the case. The Supreme Court will
hear arguments in March and is expected to hand down a ruling in
June.