California Supreme Court Proposition 8 Hearings - WATCH

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Arguments Challenging Proposition 8 to Be Heard Thursday

On March 4, 2008, the Supreme Court heard arguments that ultimately lead them to the rule the state's ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional a little more than two months later. On March 5, this Thursday, they'll again hear arguments on that topic, this time on whether Proposition 8, the voter-imposed ban on same-sex marriage, is constitutional.

The Mercury News: "The question is whether a majority of the justices will defer to popular will or, having already declared that preventing gay people from marrying was unconstitutional, will do so again. Legal experts say it is a tough call and that the court's decision, due within 90 days, will be debated for years to come...Legal experts say Proposition 8, which won 52 percent of the vote, would almost certainly stand if not for one notable fact: the marriage amendment represents the first time in California history that the constitution was changed at the ballot box to deprive a protected minority group of a right expressly carved out by the court."

Over the weekend, the Sacramento Bee previewed this week's face-off with a look at the attorneys on each side, Kenneth Starr and Shannon Minter — the former an erstwhile federal judge, U.S. solicitor and the lead prosecutor in the Bill Clinton/Monica Lewinsky hearings, and the latter a transgender man who successfully argued the same-sex marriage case before the court a year ago.

The Bee reports: "Minter calls Thursday's proceedings 'much bigger' than the case last May that invalidated Proposition 22; approved in 2000, it also limited marriage to a man and a woman. 'This is now about whether a majority can take away an inalienable right from one group of Californians,' Minter said. 'If the court were to say it's OK … then no one's rights would mean very much.' Starr did not respond to interview requests. But his co-counsel, Folsom attorney Andrew Pugno, disagreed with Minter's contention that Proposition 8 should never have been on the ballot."

Here's an interview Minter gave to Towleroad at the Democratic National Convention in Denver before Proposition 8 was approved by voters:

Nationwide vigils are scheduled for Wednesday night across California. Find out more about one in your town at EveOfJustice.com or MarriageEqualityUSA.org. Marriage Equality USA is just $18,000 short of the financing they need to secure a jumbotron for Thursdays hearings just outside the California Supreme Court.

Sean Chapin created a video about the upcoming Wednesday night events. Watch it,
AFTER THE JUMP...

Towleroad interviews Shannon Minter at the DNCAttorney who Argued California Same-Sex Marriage Case

For all our coverage thus far of the Democratic National Convention, click HERE.

We also have a slideshow with images from the DNC that we've been adding to all week, HERE.

Earlier this week, at the LGBT Caucus lunch on Monday, we were able to speak with Shannon Minter, Legal Director for National Center for Lesbian Rights.

Minter, along with San Francisco Chief Deputy City Attorney Therese Stewart, argued and oversaw the case that ultimately resulted in the 4-3 decision by the California Supreme Court, lead by Chief Justice Ronald George, to legalize same-sex marriage in the state.

Minter discusses the case, as well as the challenges ahead in battling Proposition 8, the anti-gay ballot measure that would effectively ban same-sex marriage in the state.

No on Prop 8 [official site]

Previously
Michelle Obama Speaks to LGBT Delegates at Convention Lunch [tr]
Hillary Clinton Nails it at the DNC [tr]
Towleroad Talks with the Washington Post's Jonathan Capehart [tr]
Congressman Barney Frank Talks to Towleroad at the DNC [tr]
Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin talks to Towleroad at the DNC [tr]