California gay marriage on hold as case appealed

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A U.S. appeals court panel ruled on Monday that same-sex couples could not marry in California while the court considers the constitutionality of the state's ban on gay marriage.

But the panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals set a relatively aggressive schedule for considering the case, with briefings in the fall and a hearing the week of December 6.

California's ban on same sex marriage, known as Proposition 8, passed in November 2008, setting of emotional reactions among both opponents and supporters of the ban.

Liberals questioned how trend-setting California could fall in line with roughly 40 other states that ban same-sex unions, while social conservatives boasted that their cause had national backing.

U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker ruled earlier this month that the ban was unconstitutional.

He also said last week that gay marriages could resume while higher courts considered the matter. But the brief ruling by the three-judge appellate panel reverses that, granting a stay on allowing gay marriage during the appeal.

The panel gave no reason for its decision.

(Reporting by Peter Henderson, Editing by Chris Wilson)