California's top court voids same-sex marriages
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Thursday, Aug. 12, 2004
SAN FRANCISCO - The California Supreme Court voided all same-sex marriages sanctioned by San Francisco this year, ruling today that the mayor overstepped his authority by issuing the couples licences.The court said the city violated the law when it issued the certificates and performed the marriage ceremonies in a month-long wedding march that began Feb. 12, since both legislation and a voter-approved measure defined marriage as a union between a man and woman.
The court, however, did not resolve whether the California Constitution would permit a same-sex marriage, ruling instead on the narrow issue of whether local officials could bypass California's judicial and legislative branches.