US justices consider gay marriage

The US Supreme Court is to consider two landmark cases on gay marriage in back-to-back-hearings.

On Tuesday, the justices will weigh a California constitutional amendment banning same-sex unions, passed after gay marriage became legal there. On Wednesday, a federal law defining marriage as between a man and a woman only, for the purpose of taxes and benefits, is up for review.

The court is expected to hand down its ruling by the end of June.

Jane Little reports.