California Supreme Court May Address Proposition 8 Appeal Case

On Wednesday, recently appointed Chief Justice Tani Cantil-Sakauye, who succeeds retired Chief Justice Ronald M. George, said that the California Supreme Court may decide whether or not to address the federal Proposition 8 appeal as soon as next week. Cantil-Sakauye joins the court as its only Democrat, Justice Carlos R. Moreno, is leaving to pursue a career in the private sector. LGBT advocates, hopeful that Moreno would once again show his support for overturning Proposition 8, lament his decision to leave at this potentially crucial time for marriage equality in the state of California. The U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is handling the Proposition 8 case, has deferred to the high court to decide if sponsors of an initiative have the authority to defend it in court when state officials decline to do so. Lawyers advocating for equality say that if the high court decides that sponsors do not have such authority, the 9th Circuit is ready to dismiss the case on those grounds, resulting in the demise of Proposition 8. Though Cantil-Sakauye has not stated her position on marriage equality, she did perform a marriage for a gay couple during California?s brief period of marriage equality and said she ??didn?t have any qualms about it.?Related Media Coverage:Los Angeles Times - February 3, 2011"New Chief Justice Says California Supreme Court Will Decide Soon on Entering Proposition 8 Fray"http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0203-chief-justice-20110203,0,4196539.story

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