Prop. 8 Proponents File Emergency Appeal Seeking To Prevent Same-Sex Marriages Next Week

Proponents of Prop. 8, the initiative that bans same-sex marriage in California, filed an emergency appeal (PDF) Friday in U.S. Ninth Circuit court of appeals, pleading for "relief ... in less than 21 days" to "avoid irreparable harm" from a judge's decision Thursday to lift his own stay on a ruling that overturns the law.

Under Judge Vaughn Walker's decision Thursday, same-sex couples would be able to wed starting Wednesday. The county clerk's office announced that it will be ready to issue marriage certificates starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday if Vaughn's decision holds.

Update: The Ninth Circuit has given the plaintiffs in the Proposition 8 case until 11 p.m. tonight to file a brief, addressing the defendant's emergency appeal. The plaintiffs want to overturn California's gay marriage ban.

According to Brian Devine, a legal analyst at Courage Campaign, the latest development "suggests that the Ninth Circuit is preparing to rule on the motion to stay before Judge Walker's temporary stay expires on August 18th at 5:00 p.m."

In other words, events surrounding the Prop. 8 lawsuit will be unfolding fast and furious between Monday and Wednesday of next week.

Additional reporting by Patrick Range McDonald