18,000 Marriages Depend
on Six Words

The fate of the 18,000 same-sex marriages that were legally performed in the state of California prior to Prop. 8's passage depend on six words: "Regardless of when or where performed."

As lawyers deliver oral arguments before the California supreme court, the validity of those marriages depends on how you interpret the following sentence from Prop. 8 when it appeared on the ballot: "Only marriage between a man and a woman will be recognized in the state of California, regardless of when or where performed." Though lawyers arguing against Prop. 8 say the law is prospective, not retrospective, the discussion keeps returning to that brief phrase.

Watch oral arguments live at CalChannel.com .