California high court to rule on key Prop. 8 issue

The California Supreme Court has rejoined the battle over same-sex marriage, agreeing to decide the crucial question of whether sponsors of an initiative can defend it in court when state officials refuse to do so.

The justices issued a unanimous order Wednesday granting a request by the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco to decide whether the backers of Proposition 8, the 2008 initiative banning gay and lesbian marriages, have the right under state law to appeal a judge's decision declaring the measure unconstitutional.  Read more here...