Prop 8: California Supreme Court Halts Foes of Gay Marriage

Court challenge fails to stop same-sex weddings in California

The California Supreme Court denied Wednesday a request by supporters of Proposition 8 proponents to stop same-sex marriages in California. 

The justices refused to even grant a hearing on the petition. The court made no comment in the order, which was signed by Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye.

On July 15, the same court turned down the sponsors' request for an immediate stay of same-sex marriages while the panel considered the petition for review. Then, on July 23, the court turned down a similar request for a stay by San Diego County Clerk Ernest Dronenburg, who asked the court to dismiss his separate petition for review a few days later.

The court in a second order issued Wednesday granted dismissal of Dronenburg's petition.

Prop 8 is the ballot measure passed by voters that banned same-sex marriages in California.

It made its way all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. SCOTUS justice left in place a trial judge's order striking down the ballot measure as unconstitutional in June.

Gov. Jerry Brown quickly ordered county clerks to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Prop 8 supporters had asked the state Supreme Court to stop the weddings, arguing that the federal court action applied narrowly and only to the two couples who filed the federal lawsuit challenging the ban. With little comment, a unanimous state Supreme Court allowed gay marriages to continue.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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