Ga. High Court to Expedite Gay Marriage Appeal

Georgia's highest court said Tuesday it would expedite its review of a ruling that struck down the state's voter-approved ban on gay marriage. The court will hear arguments in the case on June 27.
May 31, 2006 03:44 PM EDT

ATLANTA (AP) - Georgia's highest court said Tuesday it would expedite its review of a ruling that struck down the state's voter-approved ban on gay marriage.

A Superior Court judge earlier this month ruled that the ban violated the Georgia Constitution's single-subject rules for ballot questions because it addressed issues other than gay marriage, including civil unions.

Gov. Sonny Perdue called for a quick review by the Georgia Supreme Court and said if the high court failed to rule by Aug. 7 he would call a special session of the Legislature to get another gay marriage ban measure on the November ballot.

A statement from the Georgia Supreme Court released Tuesday said the court will hear arguments in the case on June 27.

Seventy-six percent of voters in 2004 approved the constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages.

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