Judge eyes quick action on Calif. gay marriage ban

By LISA LEFF Associated Press Writer SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge in San Francisco said a lawsuit seeking to overturn California's same-sex marriage ban will likely one day reach the U.S. Supreme Court. U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn Walker made the comment Thursday during his first hearing on the suit in explaining why he wants to conduct a full trial. It's a trial judge's job to settle any factual disputes surrounding the voter-approved ban and its effect on the civil rights of gays and lesbians before the case goes to a higher court, he said. "I am reasonably sure that, given the personalities in this courtroom, this case is only touching down in this court and it will have a life after this court," Walker said. "What happens here is in many ways a prelude to what happens later." The judge, who was named to the bench... [read full story]                    

powered by