Gay Marriage Showdown Set for California

[CShine]

SAN FRANCISCO - Legal challenges across California asking whether the state Constitution permits same-sex marriages were consolidated into one case and will be tried in San Francisco, a state agency overseeing the courts decided Friday. Gays and lesbians in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and opponents of gay marriage, have filed various lawsuits that were consolidated at the request of Attorney General Bill Lockyer, who has taken no position on the matter.

The Judicial Council ordered the cases tried as one in San Francisco Superior Court. But whatever is decided in that court will be reviewed by the California Supreme Court, which invited such challenges this spring. The seven justices are unlikely to get the case for at least a year.

The gay marriage dispute began in February when San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom permitted the city to issue same-sex marriage licenses. More than 4,000 were handed out before the California Supreme Court ordered a halt.

The justices are expected to rule this summer whether Newsom abused his office and issued the licenses in contravention of state law that says marriage is between a man and a woman. During a hearing on that issue last month, the justices indicated that Newsom overstepped his powers. But that case has nothing to do with whether the state constitution allows gays to marry.

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