Just prevails again: California Supreme Court refuses to stay gay marriage ruling

The California Supreme Court denied a request today to put its ruling allowing same-sex marriages on hold until after the November election, clearing the way for gay and lesbian weddings to begin June 17.

Opponents of the court's May 15 ruling had asked the justices to stay the decision until Californians vote Nov. 4 on a constitutional amendment that would overturn the court's decision.

The court denied the stay request unanimously, and voted 4-3 to reject requests for a new hearing in the case.

However, state Attorney General Jerry Brown's office, which also defended California's marriage law before the Supreme Court, had urged the justices to allow their ruling to become law as scheduled.

"It is time for these proceedings to end," said Christopher Krueger, a senior assistant attorney general, in a court filing. Now that the court has decided that gay and lesbian couples have the right to marry, he said, they are entitled to "an effective declaration of their constitutional rights, one that is implemented by government without unjustified delay."