Prop 8 Opponents Appeal Documents Order

Marriage equality advocates indicated Tuesday they would file an emergency appeal of a federal judge's order that they turn over documents pertaining to the campaign against California's Proposition 8 in 2008.

According to the San Jose Mercury News, "In court papers filed Tuesday, the American Civil Liberties Union asked Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker to put his order on hold while they appeal the ruling to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals."

On Monday, Walker upheld a federal magistrate's ruling that the groups -- Equality California, Californians Against Eliminating Basic Rights, and the American Civil Liberties Union 's Campaign for Marriage Equality -- must turn over documents that "contain, refer or relate to arguments for or against Proposition 8" by March 31.

Walker issued a similar order to marriage equality opponents in October, which resulted in the disclosure of some documents, and calls for marriage equality advocates who opposed Prop. 8 to do the same.

The legal back-and-forth could further delay a verdict in Perry v. Schwarzenegger, the federal lawsuit challenging Prop. 8. Closing arguments have yet to be scheduled.