From a 30,000 foot view, there is one theme to their substantive arguments: the trial didn't happen. Oh, sure they acknowledge that it physically happened, but the evidence that was presented there, wasn't convincing, the decisions all wrong. You think there was evidence that Prop 8 was discriminatory? No, not really. You think there was evidence that showed Prop 8 harmed gays and lesbians? No, not really. That it harmed the children of gays and lesbians? Nope. That it didn't harm straight marriages? No, didn't happen.

Generally, findings of fact are due deference. In many trials, these are the decisions that the jury will make. But, as this was a bench trial, the judge was the fact-finder. He determines credibility, and what he found believable. However, Cooper, Pugno, and the gang dispose of that pretty quickly: