Civil liberties

Good News on Prop 8 — Maybe

This seems like good news.

SAN FRANCISCO — A federal judge put gay marriages on hold for at least another six days in California, disappointing dozens of gay couples who lined up outside City Hall hoping to tie the knot Thursday.

Judge Vaughn Walker gave opponents of same-sex weddings until Aug. 18 at 5 p.m. to get a ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on whether gay marriage should resume. Gay marriages could happen at that point or be put off indefinitely depending on how the court rules.

The 9th Circuit is very liberal. But knowing the history of same-sex marriage throughout the last five or six years, I'm very cautiously optimistic.