Paul Hogarth, reporting for the Prop 8 Trial Tracker, reported today that closing arguments for the controversial Prop 8 trial, which decides the fate of gay marriage in California, have finally been set for June 16th.

Justice Vaughn Walker set the June court date on Wednesday, along with a supplemental date of May 9 as the deadline for the defendants, the Prop 8 supporters, to “suppress testimony” by one of the few witnesses they called to the stand, San Francisco extreme-right leaning minister, Dr. Tam.

Dr. Tam famously admitted to the court his belief that if gay marriage were legalized, it would result in an escalation of kids becoming gay, an unsubstantiated notion. His testimony is a definitive example the prosecution could reference to tie the proposition to social prejudice against a minority group.

Full Story from Examiner.com

Click here for gay marriage resources in California.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

In Prop 8 trial news, Judge Vaughn Walker has notified trial participants that he intends to close the evidentiary record, and seeks comments on that intention by this Friday:

ORDER TO SHOW CAUSE why the evidentiary record should not be closed. Show Cause Response due by 4/16/2010. Signed by Judge Walker on April 13, 2010. (vrwlc1, COURT STAFF) (Filed on 4/13/2010)

The point of closing the evidence record, of course, would be to end the opportunity to submit any new evidence, such as the discovery materials sought by the Defendant-Intervenors from non-parties who fought Prop 8 during the election. These were the subject of last month’s hearing.

Additionally, the court filed an order earlier this week regarding new Amicus Briefs. Presumably, Judge Walker has had enough of those! While he did say (when last discussing them) that he would read them all, because the case was particularly ‘well-lawyered’ Walker expected that friends-of-the-court would have little new light to shed. But, he said, in case that new light did exist, he would read amicus briefs looking for it. But, now, he may be done with them.

Full Story from Firedoglake

Click here for gay marriage resources in California.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.