On February 21, 2012 the ProtectMarriage.com coalition, the official proponents of Proposition 8, petitioned the entire Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to review the smaller panel’s February 7 decision in which they ruled 2-1 that California’s state amendment limiting marriage to one man and one woman was federally unconstitutional.

Because that decision conflicts with every state and federal appellate court which, when asked, has upheld traditional marriage as rationally related to the state’s interest in responsible procreation, the coalition decided to request an “en banc” review of the smaller panel’s opinion.

Ned Dolejsi, CCC executive director, remarked: “Because the voters of California were correct in affirming that marriage unites a woman and a man and any children from their union, I am pleased that the proponents of Proposition 8 are pursuing an en banc review of the narrow 2-1 ruling and allowing other justices of the Ninth circuit to opine.  Of course the United States Supreme Court will ultimately decide the matter.