Calif. court voids S.F. gay marriage

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 12 (UPI) -- Nearly 4,000 same-sex marriages performed in San Francisco were voided Thursday by the California Supreme Court.

The court declared the mayor of the city had overstepped his authority when he gave the green light to the issuance of marriage licenses to homosexual and lesbian couples last winter.

The ruling did not address the constitutionality of a state law limiting marriage to heterosexual couples; however on a 5-2 vote, it did nullify the nuptials performed during an unprecedented marriage spree at City Hall.

Mayor Gavin Newsome had authorized gay marriages on the grounds the state law violated constitutional guarantees of equal access under the law.