California judge
stays pro-gay marriage ruling

The California judge who two weeks ago ruled that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry stayed his ruling Wednesday pending the outcome of anticipated appeals. "I'm going to issue a stay," San Francisco County superior court judge Richard Kramer said. On March 14, Kramer ruled that gay and lesbian couples in California can marry and that the state's law against it is unconstitutional. The challenge was brought by several same-sex couples and San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom. Kramer told lawyers during a brief hearing on March 14 that his ruling would become final in about a week. Kramer scheduled the March 30 hearing so he and attorneys on both sides could review typos and other omissions in his written decision. Opponents of same-sex marriage said they immediately would appeal once Kramer finalized his ruling. Gloria Allred, an attorney for a Los Angeles lesbian couple who wanted to immediately marry, told Kramer that every day her clients cannot marry "is a day they are suffering irreparable harm." Kramer's decision is headed to the first district court of appeal in San Francisco and, after that, to the California supreme Court, also in San Francisco. The dispute may not be settled for years. (AP)