Author Archives: Lisa Keen

Prop 8 opponents score hits against defense claims

Testimony in the Proposition 8 trial Tuesday began with emotional testimony by San Diego’s Republican Mayor Jerry Sanders and ended with a clear hit against the claim that same-sex marriages will somehow do harm to straight marriages.

Mid-day report: second Tuesday morning Prop 8 trial

Tuesday morning’s testimony in the Proposition 8 trial began with riveting and emotional testimony by San Diego’s Republican Mayor Jerry Sanders, but the legal team scored a big victory during more testimony concerning economics.

Olson firm has history of supporting gay marriage

It turns out that it shouldn’t have been a big surprise last year when conservative icon Ted Olson announced he would help lead the charge against Proposition 8, the initiative which bans legal recognition for same-sex relationships in California. Olson’s

Supreme Court’s second move alarms gay legal activists

In its second surprise move in a week, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday announced it would review another narrow dispute involving anti-gay activists’ alleged fear of harassment over their public opposition to legal recognition for same-sex relationships.

Prop 8 – Day 5: The defense stalls and pleads fear factor

It’s not often one hears these words in a federal courtroom: “Dyke. You fucking dyke. You’re going to die and go to hell.”

Mid-day report: Friday morning Prop 8 trial

There was some extra drama in and outside the courtroom this morning when one of the defense’s attorneys, David Thompson, told Judge Vaughn Walker that defense had withdrawn many of its witnesses because of their fears about being videotaped and

Prop 8 – Day 4: From money to mental health

The discussion at the Proposition 8 trial Thursday swung from economics to mental health. Each inquiry had its legal purpose.

Mid-day report: Thursday morning Prop 8 trial

It was mostly a numbers game in the courtroom this morning during Day 4 of the federal trial challenging Proposition 8.

Defense profers a harm: gay male non-monogamy

Attorneys defending Proposition 8 in a federal district court tipped their hand Wednesday on how they will try to show that allowing same-sex couples to marry might harm the institution of marriage.

Mid-day report: Wednesday morning Prop 8 trial

Attorneys for Proposition 8 tried to make a case this morning for the notion that people could support the ban on same-sex marriage without feeling hostility toward gay people. Their prime exhibit: President Obama.