Official Proponents Allowed to Defend Proposition 8

Proposition 8 is a voter-approved initiative that limits marriages to only those entered into by a man and a woman. Earlier, a federal judge struck down Proposition 8 as a violation of equal protection. On appeal, the issue of who would defend the initiative arose after California’s top officals refused to do so.

The issue was sent to the California Supreme Court, and on Thursday the Court ruled that supporters of Proposition 8 (called the “official proponents”) could defend the controversial ballot initiative in federal court. 

See Bill Mears, Court: California Same-Sex Marriage Fight Can Continue, Nov. 17, 2011.