Gay-Marriage Foes Rest; Case Goes to Judge

The first federal case to decide if the US Constitution prevents states from stopping same-sex weddings came to an anti-climatic break today, with the defense resting its case after nearly 12 days of wide-ranging testimony on the meaning of marriage, the nature of sexual orientation, and the role of religion in shaping attitudes about both. Judge Vaughn Walker, who's hearing the case against California's Proposition 8 without a jury, will deliberate before hearing closing arguments, likely in March or April. (More Prop 8 trial stories.)