The lead attorneys for George W. Bush and Al Gore in the grueling 2000 Bush v. Gore Supreme Court case have joined forces to fight California Proposition 8.  David Boies (Gore’s attorney, pictured left) and Theodore Olson (Bush’s attorney) announced in a joint press conference today in Los Angeles they will be arguing for overturning Prop. 8 in a lawsuit filed in Federal Court in San Francisco.

This odd couple of top tier lawyers  - Boies was a partner at Cravath, Swaine & Moore before leaving to found Boies, Schiller & Flexner; Olson was the Solicitor General of the United States during the Bush administration - is putting their significant political differences aside to fight for something they both believe in: civil rights.  Their case, filed on behalf of two gay couples, argues for striking down Propostion 8 on the grounds that it violates the United States Constitution’s guarantees to equal protection and due process for all citizens under the law.  If there are any two people to get California’s gay marriage ban overturned, these are the guys.  Opponents of Prop. 8 should be very happy at them taking on this case. LINKS:

American Foundation for Equal Rights: Press Release

CNN: Bush v. Gore lawyers launch new same-sex marriage appeal

LA Times: Gay marriage battle relaunches today as Prop. 8 is challenged in court