TUESDAY: Virginia Marriage Hearing

The first hearing on Virginia's marriage lawsuit will be held on Tuesday in a federal court in Harrisonburg.

Lawyers for the two Shenandoah Valley couples who filed the lawsuit are asking a federal judge to certify the case as a class action representing all same-sex couples in the state. Judge Michael Urbanski will hear arguments Tuesday morning. The judge also will consider whether to dismiss Gov. Bob McDonnell and Staunton Circuit Court Clerk Thomas E. Roberts as defendants. The other defendant is Janet Rainey, the state registrar of vital records.

The case will not be argued on its merits until January 3rd.