CNN.com – “Judge strikes down California’s ban on same-sex marriage”

“In a separate order, Walker also granted supporters of Proposition 8 a temporary stay, which stops his decision from taking immediate effect. . . . Walker gave both sides in the case until Friday to submit their responses to the order. . . .

“Opponents of same-sex marriage have said their best bet lies with the higher courts, and vowed to appeal the federal judge's ruling.

“Proposition 8 is part of a long line of seesaw rulings, court cases, debates and protests in California over the controversial issue of same-sex marriage. It passed with some 52 percent of the vote in November 2008.

“‘Big surprise! We expected nothing different from Judge Vaughn Walker, after the biased way he conducted this trial,’ said Brian Brown, president of the National Organization for Marriage. ‘With a stroke of his pen, Judge Walker has overruled the votes and values of 7 million Californians who voted for marriage as one man and one woman.’”