While Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling on Proposition 8, the state ban on same-sex marriage, remains pending in the district court, San Francisco is about to witness another high-profile constitutional law battle go down near the Civic Center.

The controversy around Arizona's new immigration law, SB 1070, is about to sweep into town.

Yesterday, federal Judge Susan Bolton blocked a key part of the Arizona law signed by Gov. Jan Brewer, that authorizes police to detain and arrest anyone under "reasonable suspicion" of being an undocumented immigrant. A watered-down version of the law goes into effect today.

Lawyers for the state of Arizona plan to appeal the ruling in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco. It remains unclear when they will file the appeal.