“Federal Judge Stresses Trial Record on Calif. Gay-Marriage Ban”

Mike McKee writes at the Recorder (Law.com):

Whatever Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker winds up deciding on Proposition 8, it’s clear he wants an airtight trial record to support it. Holding his first hearing Thursday on the controversial measure that outlawed same-sex marriage, Walker repeatedly stressed the importance of establishing a record that will stand the test of time . . .

“How we do things here,” Walker said, “is more important than what we do.” He noted that other courts have rendered decisions on same-sex marriage without holding full trials, which he suggested was a “problem.”