Teddy Partridge Live Blogging Prop. 8 Court Challenge Now

[UPDATE August 4, 2010:  Here's a post on the decision of Judge Walker today] 

Here's  a link if you want to follow the trial in San Francisco which is challenging the constitutionality of the November 2008 California proposition that banned same sex marriage.

[UPDATE 6:39pm Alaska Time:  Here's Day 1 from a different live blogger.
It too is a gay-marriage friendly site.  I've tried to find conservative bloggers who are blogging the trial.  I'm sure they're out there, but I went through several pages of Google without success.  There are conservative posts, but not bloggers providing details from the court.]

This trial, which has the opposing attorneys from Bush v. Gore working together, is controversial on various levels.  People who supported Prop. 8 believe that the voters have spoken and the courts overturning that vote would be anti-democratic.  People challenging that vote believe the right to marry whom you choose is a constitutionally protected civil rights issue that would take a Constitutional amendment, not a simple majority vote to prevent.

Gay groups disagree about the strategy of direct Federal court challenge when the majority of the US Supreme Court is so conservative, fearing a negative Supreme Court will set their cause back.  On the other hand, should this Supreme Court affirm the right to same sex marriage, it would be a far more powerful decision than if a liberal court did.

And then there is the debate over televising this trial.  The judge originally agreed to allow parts of the trial to be shown on YouTube.  This morning the US Supreme Court, as you can read below, has stayed that plan.

Having attended the Alaska political corruption trials here in Anchorage, I have to say actually being there and hearing what is actually said, means one can judge for oneself and not be dependent on the news folks who interpret six to eight hours a day into a 30 second sound bite.

Here's the beginning of the second blog post at FiredogLake.  Click here or on the title for the rest of the post and the next posts as the appear. 

Prop 8: Liveblogging Perry v. Schwarzenegger (Pt. 2)

By: Teddy Partridge Monday January 11, 2010 9:17 am

Phillip Burton Federal Building and Courthouse in San Francisco

[Ed. note: Teddy is live on scene in San Francisco. Part one of his liveblog can be found here.]
Lawyers are settling into their places; it’s 8:38 here. Perhaps the SCOTUS stay has delayed our start here? Twitterers casting the SCOTUS stay as “the first loss for the Olson/Boies team.”
Counsel table camera is now having a little earthquake of its own.
Court personnel setting papers up for Judge Walker.
We still don’t have sound; I sure hope that the AV team remembers to turn it up when they start.
We are reminded not to use any cameras or recording equipment in the overflow courtroom. There is a judge standing by ready to issue contempt orders! A couple of people put away cameras.
This room we’re in is very 1960s ceremonial, lots of wood paneling and not-very-impressive portraits on the wall, perhaps of retired judges? There is a huge plate at the center of the front wall with a large eagle done in gold leaf, the entire wall is grey marble. The room where the trial is actually going to be held looks very similar, except there’s room on the dais for only one judge, while in this room there are fifteen judges’ chairs.
The court recorder just sat down at her seat. . . [for the rest click here.]