DOMA challenge to be heard in California News
DOMA challenge to be heard in California

[JURIST] The only remaining challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act [DOMA text] is set to begin today in California. The lawsuit argues DOMA and California's Proposition 22 [text] are violations of a gay couple's civil rights. California only recognizes marriages as between a man and a woman and DOMA allows states to disregard any gay marriages performed in other states. The hearing comes after gay couples in Florida earlier this week dropped similar lawsuits [JURIST report] fearing the US Supreme Court [official website] would reject the case, thereby setting a precedent. The only other same-sex marriage case pending in federal court is in Nebraska, but that is only a challenging a state law. AP has more.