The California Supreme Court has agreed to hear several legal challenges to Proposition 8.

The three lawsuits to be heard seek to nullify Proposition 8 on the grounds that it abridges the civil rights of a vulnerable minority group, and argue that voters did not have the authority to enact such a significant constitutional change.

The ruling was not all good news for anti-Prop 8 protestors however, with the Court ruling against an order that would have permitted GLBT couples to marry until the cases were resolved.

The court directed California Attorney General Jerry Brown and pro-Proposition 8 supporters to submit their arguments for why the ballot initiative should not be nullified by December 19. Proposition 8 opponents must respond before January 5. Oral arguments for the challenges may be heard as soon as March 2009.

(in part: AFP)