| Show I California Supreme Court appears split spot on gay marriage Maura Dolan Los Angeles Times The California Supreme Court appeared divided Tuesday over the constitutionality of the states state's ban on sex same-sex marriage During three hours of arguments by lawyers for forand forand forand and against gay marriage Justice Joyce L. L Kennard questioned has effectively conceded there is no valid grounds for distinction between domestic partnership and m jo marriage rr But at least three of the seven seyen justices repeatedly noted that California voters have defined marriage as a union between a man and a a. woman and that the public might not be ready to embrace sex same-sex marriage Justice Carol A. A Corrigan indicated that it might be best to leave the question to the public whose perception of gay marriage she said is evolving She also asked lawyers to show her where the state constitution addressed sex same-sex marriage Justice Carlos R. R Morenos Moreno's questions did not make clear which way he was leaning But he asked a lawyer forthe forthe for forthe the city of San Francisco whether the states state's domestic partnerships gave same- same sex couples rights equal to those extended to married matTied couples Its not equal your honor Deputy City Attorney Therese M. M Stewart said Moreno asked this just boil down to the use of the m word marriage Stewart replied That symbol has deep meaning Chief Justice Ronald M. M George suggested that the state might want to give sex same-sex unions a different name because the federal government does not recognize gay marriage But Buthe Buthe Buthe he also peppered opponents of sex same-sex marriage with skeptical questions The courts court's decision will resolve a dispute that began in 2004 when the city and county of San Francisco sanctioned nearly sex same-sex marriages The justices have 90 days to decide whether to strike down California law that limits marriage to a man and a woman and instead to permit sex same-sex couples to wed The courtroom was packed for the long-awaited long hearing with lawyers for various sides taking turns at atthe atthe atthe the podium Attorneys for sex same-sex couples and for state marriage law violated equal protection equal 1 rights and discrimination anti-discrimination laws while lawyers forthe for forthe forthe the attorney generals general's and governors governor's offices and for pro-family pro and religious groups insisted that cultural tradition justified a ban on gay weddings A trial judge in San Francisco had ruled in favor of the gay couples but that decision was overturned 2 1 by a Court of Appeal panel here The court received dozens of written arguments from law professors psychologists religious groups and civil- civil rights advocates on whether sex same-sex couples should be permitted to marry I 1 IThe The seven seven court has six Republicans and one Democrat It is considered cautious and moderately conservative |
