Court halts gay vows
SURPRISE RULING: Newsom says the city will make a strong case State justices take S.F. case on narrow constitutional issue, promise quick decision
Bob Egelko, Chronicle Staff Writer Friday, March 12, 2004
The California Supreme Court ordered an immediate halt Thursday to same-sex weddings in San Francisco and said it would decide within months whether the city had the authority to issue marriage licenses in defiance of state law.

The justices' unanimous orders at least temporarily froze ceremonies that have brought thousands of jubilant couples to City Hall in the last month, emboldened local officials in far-away cities and towns to challenge their states' marriage laws and sparked a political furor that has become an issue in the presidential race.