The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco plans to announce it’s ruling on Tuesday on whether Proposition 8 violates the constitutional rights of same-sex couples.

The three-judge panel heard arguments more than a year ago on the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the measure that was approved by voters in 2008 and bans same-sex marriage in California. Prop 8 was overturned in August of 2010 by former U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who argued that it discriminated on the basis of sexual orientation and gender.

But supporters of the measure appealed Walker’s ruling, arguing that it was not discriminatory to reaffirm the traditional definition of marriage. The 9th U.S. Circuit suspended the ruling while considering the case.

The ruling is expected to be issued at 10 a.m., although the case will likely not be over. Both sides have said that they plan to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court if they come out on the wrong end of the ruling.

Photo Credit: Marc, via Wikimedia Commons

• Tag: 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Appeal, Constitutional Rights, LGBT, Proposition 8, same-sex marriage