California Supreme Court To Rule On Same Sex Marriage May 26, 2009

May 22, 2009

The California Supreme Court will issue its long-awaited decision on the validity of the state's same-sex marriage ban on Tuesday.

The high court announced the pending opinion on its Web site Friday morning.

Justices are considering a series of lawsuits seeking to overturn a constitutional amendment approved by voters in November that overruled a court decision that briefly legalized same-sex unions. The suits claim Proposition 8 was put on the ballot improperly.

The court also will decide whether the estimated 18,000 gay couples who married before the measure passed can stay legally wed.

Court observers say the state's high court is unlikely to invalidate the ban.

Same-sex marriage is legal in five states.