Wisconsin high court to rule on gay marriage ban

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is expected to rule this week on whether the 2006 constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and civil unions is valid.

The court is expected to decide Wednesday whether the amendment was properly put to voters.

A lawsuit claims the measure violated the constitution by asking two questions at the same time: whether to limit marriage to one man and one woman, and whether to outlaw any similar legal status for unmarried individuals. The constitution says ballot questions should be limited to a single subject.

A Dane County judge ruled in 2008 the question was valid.

A ruling striking down the amendment would not legalize gay marriage because state law already defines marriage as a union between a husband and wife.

(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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