Prop. 8 Trial begins in SF today *video blocked*

UPDATE: This morning, the US Supreme Court *blocked the public viewing of the trial* in other courthouses and on YouTube until they discuss it on Wed. The whole trial is being taped, but we may never get to see it.

In the meantime, people inside the San Francisco courtroom are keeping us informed with written updates, article links, and live twitter feeds. Some of the best: American Foundation for Equal Rights (the group bringing the case), Prop 8 Trial Tracker by the Courage Campaign, and Firedoglake. Ted Olsen's opening statement is posted, along with testimony from the couples. Look for daily reviews on all of your favorite queer web sites.

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The trial challenging Prop 8 begins today in San Francisco. The case, Perry vs. Schwarzenegger, will decide whether or not California's ban on same-sex marriage violates the U.S. Constitution.

Live broadcast of the trial will be shown only in federal courthouses in San Francisco, Pasadena, Portland, Ore., Seattle, and Brooklyn, N.Y. The rest of us can follow the updates from bloggers in those locations and wait until the end of each day for the video clips posted on the court's YouTube channel (which will become available when the first video is posted.) In addition to the video, the court created a web site for legal updates on this case.

Legal foes Ted Olsen and David Boies have teamed up to represent the people challenging the ban. The lawyers will question two same sex couples - known collectively as Perry - experts, and other witnesses during the 2-3 weeks of the nonjury trial.

Olsen is a Republican who explained his reasons for taking the case in the article The Conservative Case for Gay Marriage: Why same-sex marriage is an American value.

Although the case says it's versus Schwarzenegger, the governor isn't defending Prop 8. He said he's neutral, and the state attorney general opposes the ban. So a religious coalition of Prop 8 sponsors is defending it. The main lawyer for their side is Charles Cooper.

The suit was assigned to Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, a 1989 appointee of President George Bush, Sr. Judge Walker has a reputation as a libertarian and a maverick on the bench, and expects his ruling to be appealed to the US Supreme Court either way. But for now, all eyes are on Walker's San Francisco courtroom.