Three gay couples have sued to overturn the state law limiting marriage to opposite-sex couples. The defendant is the Hennepin County official who issues marriage licenses, and the state and county each think the other should be responsible for his defense and pay his court costs.

Judge Mary Dufresne has 90 days to decide. A trial isn't possible until she does, so it's extremely unlikely there will be a resolution before Election Day, when Minnesota voters will decide whether the ban already in state law should be strengthened by putting it in the state constitution.