Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, the judge presiding over California's same-sex marriage trial, asked some hard-nosed questions of both sides of the Prop 8 case today, the San Francisco Chronicle is reporting.

Walker asked gay-rights advocates, “How can marriage between gay or lesbian couples be a fundamental right in a nation that denied all legal protection to their relationships until very recently?”

He then put sponsors of Prop 8 on the spot, “In a state that treats domestic partners the same as spouses, what purpose is served by differentiating - in name only - between same-sex and opposite-sex unions?"

These are just two of questions that Walker would like both sides to address in their closing arguments, which are set for next Wednesday.The judge turned over nine pages of questions to each counsel for review. 

A ruling is not expected until this summer.

The full list of questions is posted here.

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