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U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker has ruled that California’s Proposition 8, the ban on same-sex marriage, violates the U.S. Constitution. The ruling was released on Wednesday afternoon at approximately 1:40 p.m.

The voter-approved measure, which passed in 2008, defines marriage as a union between a man and a woman.

Judge Walker also approved a temporary stay blocking same-sex couples from marrying. Couples attempting to wed at San Francisco's City Hall were denied marriage licenses Wednesday afternoon.

Check our website throughout the afternoon and evening as we offer ongoing coverage of reactions to the Prop. 8 decision.

Click here to read Judge Vaughn Walker's ruling.