Appeals court nullifies same-sex marriage ban

In a decision that likely will set the stage for a high-stakes
showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals struck down California's Proposition 8 ballot measure that
banned gay marriage, saying there is no "legitimate" reason to keep
same-sex couples from marrying.

Prop 8 supporters immediately
announced plans to appeal the 2–1 ruling February 7 to a larger panel of
the Ninth Circuit and, ultimately, to the Supreme Court.

"No
court should presume to redefine marriage. No court should undercut the
democratic process by taking the power to preserve marriage out of the
hands of the people," said Brian Raum, an attorney with the Alliance
Defense Fund, which is representing an umbrella group of Prop 8
supporters known as ProtectMarriage.com.