The judges have been named for the Perry v. Schwarzenegger (aka Proposition 8 ) hearing on December 6, by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. They are:

* Stephen Roy Reinhardt
* Michael Daly Hawkins
* Norman Randy Smith

The judges were appointed by Carter, Clinton, and George W. Bush, respectively. San Diego Gay & Lesbian News provides brief backgrounds on each.

As KQED's Scott Shafer blogged recently, the panel will first consider whether supporters of Proposition 8, the voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage, have legal standing in the case. Then the court will hear arguments on whether the ban is unconstitutional, which U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker declared in August.