01.04.2010 3:00pm EST
(San Francisco) The federal judge presiding over an upcoming trial on
California’s same-sex marriage ban says he is considering seeking permission to
broadcast the proceedings.
The
governing body for federal courts in Western states last week approved a pilot
program that would for the first time allow cameras in civil trials being
decided by judges.
Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker said in an order issued
Wednesday that he wants to record or webcast a Jan. 6 pretrial hearing as a
test run for the trial, in which he’ll consider a constitutional challenge to
California’s voter-approved gay marriage ban, known as Proposition 8.
Lawyers representing sponsors of the ban, approved by voters in 2008,
have said they oppose having the trial broadcast outside the courtroom.