Supremes Uphold Prop 8

Stuart Gaffney and John Lewis, original petitioners in the challenge to Prop 8, await the ruling at the Supreme Court building on Tuesday. More photos after the jump.

The big legal news of the day has just hit the fan.  We hear it's a madhouse down at the court building in Civic Center right now.  You'll notice our Twitter feed to the left has Recorder Editor in Chief Scott Graham tweeting his way through the opinion.  The court's website is absolutely mobbed right now, so for those wanting to get their hands on the actual opinion, here's our copy (S168047.pdf).

Your handy guide to our coverage:

• Our boss Twittered the heck out of the Harry Potter-length ruling, starting around 10 am.
• Supreme Court specialist Mike McKee's story is online.
• We've posted outtakes from lawyers and academics' blog reactions.
• We also talked with a trio of Boalt Hall professors about the 18,000 gay couples married before Prop 8.
• Oh, and adding insult to the marriage-equality camp's injury, the top "Yes on 8" lawyer is running for the Assembly.

Meanwhile, our inboxes are being choked with press releases from groups on both side of same-sex marriage. Sample the buffet, after the jump.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, in full: “While I believe that one day either the people or courts will recognize gay marriage, as Governor of California I will uphold the decision of the California Supreme Court. Regarding the 18,000 marriages that took place prior to Proposition 8’s passage, the Court made the right decision in keeping them intact. I also want to encourage all those responding to today’s Court decision to do so peacefully and lawfully.”

GLAAD: “It is wrong to stand in the way of giving committed couples the legal protections they need to take care of and be responsible for each other and their families.”

Above, S.F. City Attorney Dennis Herrera spoke at a press conference following the ruling. In a word: "Bummer."  Below, a gay-marriage foe summarizes his argument in two words. (Photos: Jason Doiy)

S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom, considerably less swaggery, says (.pdf) this: “It is up to every single one of us who supports marriage equality to reach out to those who still disagree with our position and have a personal conversation about why it is so important to treat every Californian equally.”

State Senator Leland Yee (D-SF/San Mateo), from the sidelines: “A year ago, our Supreme Court reaffirmed the highest ideals of our republic. Today, it is only Justice Moreno in his dissent who now stands on the right side of history.”

Alliance Defense Fund, a Christian legal group that backed the Prop: “The California Supreme Court arrived at the only correct conclusion available …” 

Liberty Counsel, another out-of-state Christian group that rallied the Prop 8 troops: "Unfortunately, the Court unanimously refused to invalidate the same-sex 'marriage' licenses obtained in that state before November."

Something called “Save California” is graceless in victory: “Today's ruling by the California Supreme Court that some 18,000 homosexual 'marriages' are valid, despite the vote of the people to prohibit such legal recognition, has frustrated and disappointed pro-family citizens who voted for true protection of marriage licenses for a man and a woman.” (The press release is titled “An Arm and a Leg Cut Off Marriage.”)

— Brian McDonough

Comments

[Katie]

Don't worry, we'll take it to the ballot box ... this will not stand for long!