by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: July 1, 2008 - 1:00 pm ET
(Portland, Oregon) A three judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit
Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments next week in a lawsuit brought by
conservative groups seeking to revive last
year's failed referendum on Oregon's domestic partnership law.
The law allows same-sex couples and opposite-sex
couples unable to marry to form legally recognized partnerships. It was passed
by the legislature in 2007.
Socially conservative groups immediately
challenged the partnership law in court, alleging it violated Oregon's
constitution which bars same-sex marriage.
In February a federal judge ruled the law was not
unconstitutional and it went into effect. (story)
The groups filed an immediate appeal with the 9th
Circuit and began a petition drive to have the laws placed on the ballot.
The bid to collect enough signatures to have a
repeal effort placed before voters failed and the organizations said they were
pinning their hopes on the appeals court.
The appeals panel... more