Supporters of a proposed constitutional amendment that would restore California's ban on gay marriage are urging the state Supreme Court to reject a bid to remove the measure from the November ballot.

In a 46-page petition filed Monday, lawyers for the Alliance Defense Fund and Protect Marriage groups argue that the legal challenge to the ballot measure is a "desperate" attempt to "evade the democratic process."

Secretary of State Debra Bowen, whose office certifies ballot measures, also filed a brief with the Supreme Court taking no position on the lawsuit. But Bowen did ask the court to resolve the issue by Aug. 11, when millions of ballot pamphlets are scheduled to be sent out to the printer.

Civil rights groups two weeks ago filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court, seeking to block the ballot measure because they consider it misleading and an improper method of amending the state constitution. Among other things, the suit argues that the petition to put the measure on the ballot was circulated before the Supreme Court found the state's previous gay marriage ban unconstitutional in May.

posted by Imapp Staff at 6:57 PM | link

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