California court to hear Proposition 8 case

SAN FRANCISCO -- California's highest court will hear oral arguments next month in legal challenges to the state's voter-approved same-sex marriage ban.

The state Supreme Court has scheduled a March 5 hearing date for arguments in a series of lawsuits trying to overturn Proposition 8.

Gay couples, several local governments and Attorney General Jerry Brown say the ballot initiative, which passed with 52 percent of the vote, is unconstitutional.

If it opts to uphold the measure, the court has said it will also decide whether the 18,000 same-sex marriages performed when gay marriage was legal in California are valid.

After hearing arguments, the court's seven justices will have 90 days in which to issue a ruling.