Live testimony has ended in the federal case which will determine the fate of Proposition 8 in California.
A traditional marriage advocate and author closed the proceedings Wednesday. Both sides have 30 days to submit written summaries before Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker will set a date for closing arguments.
One of the most interesting aspects of the case, Perry v. Schwarzenegger, is that David Boies and Theodore Olson, who were on opposing sides in Bush v. Gore which halted the disputed Florida recount in the 2000 Presidential election, are teamed up on the side of the plaintiffs.
The case faces certain appeals and is expect to ultimately expected to be decided by the Supreme Court years down the road.
It is apparent that both sides are digging in for the long haul.
“We can’t be complacent as this case works its way through the court system” wrote Equality California executive director Geoff Kors earlier this month to supporters. “We must continue to do the hard work of reaching out to those who do not yet support full equality. We have to help them understand why marriage matters for same-sex couples.”
ProtectMarraige.com, a traditional marriage political committee was critical of the plaintiffs’ case at this early stage of the game.
“The plaintiffs put on a spectacular show-trial of irrelevant evidence, calling to the stand many ‘expert’ witnesses to testify that allowing homosexual marriage would: help local governments raise more tax revenues, help gay and lesbian couples to accumulate greater wealth, and improve the self-esteem of homosexuals,” wrote Andy Pugno, general counsel for ProtectMarriage. “But those are political arguments for society to consider, not legal support for the claim that the US Constitution contains the right to homosexual marriage. The courtroom is simply not the proper forum for what is clearly a social, not a legal, appeal.”
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