Supreme Court to hear same-sex marriage case

The Supreme Court agreed to hear challenges to federal and state laws concerning the definition of marriage.

Reuters reported that the court will hear a case against the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) which is "a federal law that denies married same-sex couples the federal benefits heterosexual couples receive." It also will hear a challenge to California's Proposition 8, a ban on gay marriage.

The New York Times reported that the cases would be argued in March.

Currently, nine states and the District of Columbia have laws that allow same-sex unions. Three -- Washington, Maryland and Maine -- just approved it in November.