Ninth Circuit Rules That Prop 8 Is Unconstitutional

The Ninth Circuit issued its substantive opinion in Perry v. Brown this morning, ruling that Proposition 8 violated the federal Constitution's Equal Protection Clause.  Judge Reinhardt's majority opinion states:

Proposition 8 had one effect only. It stripped same-sex couples of the ability they previously possessed to obtain from the State, or any other authorized party, an important right--the right to obtain and use the designation of 'marriage' to describe their relationships. Nothing more, nothing less. Proposition 8 therefore could not have been enacted to advance California's interests in childrearing or responsible procreation.

We have uploaded a PDF of the Ninth Circuit opinion.