Date: August 10, 2004	Media Advisory:  14

Supreme Court to Issue Opinion  In Same-Sex Marriage Cases on August 12

At 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 12, the Supreme Court’s written opinion in both cases will be available online at www.courtinfo.ca.gov/opinions .  Both cases before the Supreme Court include the following issue:  Did respondent officials of the City and County of San Francisco exceed the scope of their authority in refusing to enforce the statutory provisions limiting marriage only to a couple comprised of a man and a woman in the absence of a judicial determination that the statutory limitation is unconstitutional?

In keeping with the Supreme Court’s longstanding practice, the justices will not be available to comment on the written opinions to be filed on Thursday.  Please be advised that the Code of Judicial Ethics forbids California state judges from commenting on pending cases.

In Lewis v. Alfaro, S122865, the attorneys who argued before the court were Jordan Lorence, of the Alliance Defense Fund (for petitioner), and Ms. Stewart, of the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office (for respondent).  (The telephone number for the Alliance Defense Fund is 480-444-0020.)

The same case information on Lewis v. Alfaro is at http://appellatecases.courtinfo.ca.gov/search/mainCaseScreen.cfm?dist=0&doc_id=311759&rc=1 .

All legal briefs are available online at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/presscenter/briefs.htm