Judge Vaughn Walker has announced that Proposition 8 will officially expire at 5 p.m. on August 18. Last week Walker ruled that Prop. 8 was unconstitutional but delayed the implementation of the order so that gay couples could not marry immediately.

To buy himself some time after he announced his ruling on the case, Walker placed a "stay" on his decision. He said that he needed to hear additional arguments and to decide whether the ban should be lifted before his decision went through the appeals process.

About his decision to not extend the stay, Walker said:

“The evidence presented at trial and the position of the representatives of the State of California show that an injunction against enforcement of Proposition 8 is in the public’s interest. Accordingly, the court concludes that the public interest counsels against entry of the stay proponents seek.”

via the New York Times