Just as the trial of Proposition 8 was about to get underway in Judge Vaughn Walker's courtroom in San Francisco this morning, the US Supreme Court delivered an injunction against the promised video feeds and rebroadcasts of the trial. The injunction, which Justice Steven Breyer objected to, lasts until midday Wednesday when the full court will hear arguments about whether the broadcasts will go forward as planned, be expanded, or be ended entirely.

The Courage Campaign Institute's founder and chair, Rick Jacobs, was able to make it into the Burton Federal Courthouse in downtown San Francisco this morning where the trial is happening. He is liveblogging at the Prop 8 Trial Tracker, a website we launched this morning to monitor and hold accountable the right-wing organizations that are trying to undermine the course of justice.

Jacobs has described fascinating exchanges between Judge Walker and Ted Olson such as this:

The judge is probing extensively whether or not the problem would be solved if the state of California “got out of the marriage business.” He and Olson had a colloquy about whether domestic partnership for all would solve the problem. Olson had to have a note handed to him from his team to say that only opposite-sex couples over 62 can have domestic partnership. Judge Walker is very interested in seeing what change has occurred that should force the federal judiciary to enter the issue. He wants to know what evidence will show that makes the matter worthy of judgment. The judge is very, very smart. This is really, really fascinating. Olson is doing a great job in answering him. “What’s the evidence going to show that Prop. 8” intended to discriminate against gays and lesbians. Olson: no question that Prop. 8 intended to discriminate. We’ll put on evidence from the plaintiffs and others that show how they felt about the campaign, the sentiments that may have been used to motivate the voters.

At the outset of the trial, Judge Walker also made reference to the debate over the broadcast. He said that by 5PM last Friday, 138,542 comments were received in favor of broadcasting the trial - and only 32 were received opposing it. We believe most, if not all, those comments were the result of the petition that the Courage Campaign and CREDO Mobile delivered on Friday to Judge Walker. It is a clear sign that the people want this case tried in full public view, and reject entirely the self-serving arguments of the anti-equality forces, people who are afraid to let the public know their true motives for putting Prop 8 on the ballot.

No matter what happens at the SCOTUS this week, the Courage Campaign Institute will continue to track this trial and the right-wing reaction to it.

We could also use your help in keeping this going. Maintaining the liveblog isn't free - if you can contribute $25, $50, $100 or more to the Courage Campaign Institute, we can continue to maintain the site as the trial unfolds. Thanks.

Below is the email we sent to our members today about the Prop 8 Trial Tracker:

Dear friend --

In just three days, an astounding 140,671 Americans signed our letter asking Judge Vaughn Walker to "televise the trial" -- and we hand-delivered 138,248 of your signatures to the court Friday morning.

The good news: Judge Walker just announced the amazing final results on public comments: 138,542 in favor, 32 opposed. Congrats to the Courage Campaign and CREDO Action communities!

The bad news: Opponents of marriage equality filed an emergency appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday, begging to hide the trial from the American public. And a few hours ago, the Supreme Court delayed their decision until Wednesday.

Prop 8 supporters and anti-equality organizations like the National Organization for Marriage have spent tens of millions of dollars on 30-second ads scaring the American people into thinking that same-sex marriage will destroy our country. And now, when federal judges want to open the courtrooms to America, Prop 8 supporters want to unplug the TV.

What are they hiding? And what are organizations like NOM and Focus on the Family willing to do and say to keep the American people from finding out the truth?

The Prop 8 trial starts today. That's why the Courage Campaign Institute is launching the "Prop 8 Trial Tracker" -- a web site that will hold right-wing organizations accountable for what they say every day of the Prop 8 trial. We need your support immediately. Will you contribute $25, $50, $100 or more right now to help us get the truth out ASAP?

http://www.couragecampaign.org/GetTheTruthOut

On the defensive, Prop 8 supporters are scared they will lose. Maggie Gallagher, President of NOM, has made Judge Vaughn Walker the immediate target of NOM's misinformation strategy, launching a baseless attack on the judge a few days ago:

"The case will be a show trial in a kangaroo court. I don't say that lightly of any federal judge, but Judge Walker's extraordinary bias has already been flagrantly on display."

As the trial unfolds, we can expect NOM and their allies to continue to try and convince the public the court is biased. And our Prop 8 Trial Tracker will continue to monitor these misleading right-wing claims, in and outside the courtroom, and report the truth.

We're launching the Prop 8 Trial Tracker as a public service to get the truth out. But we can't do it without your support. Please contribute $25, $50, $100 or more right now to support our work during the Prop 8 trial to hold the right-wing accountable:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/GetTheTruthOut

Thank you for helping us get the truth out ASAP.

Rick Jacobs
Chair, Courage Campaign Institute