Imperial County passed Prop 8 by 20,217 votes or 70 percent, according to the Union Tribune. Last December the Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to hire the outside firm, arguing that they had a governmental interest because their county clerks had to issue marriage licenses.

The county board appealed Walker's ruling denying their petition to intervene. So when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals convenes the week of Dec. 6 to considering the issue of whether Protect Marriage has legal "standing" as a civilian group to appeal Walker's ruling on Prop 8, they will also decide if Imperial County has legal "standing" to serve as government-defenders in the case.