The California Supreme Court ruled Thursday that San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom overstepped his authority when issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples earlier this year.

In this instance, the Court supported the position of most voters.

A Rasmussen Reports survey of 1,000 Likely Voters taken at the time Newsom was issuing the licenses found that just 32% believed the gay and lesbian couples who received them were "legally married." Sixty-one percent (61%) disagreed, while 7% were not sure.

The survey also found that 66% of Americans opposed Newsom's decision to issue marriage licenses for gay and lesbian couples. Only 24% favored that decision.

As for the judges in Massachusetts who mandated same sex marriage for their state, 62% of American voters believed the judges exceeded their authority. Only 28% believed these judges acted appropriately.

On the national level, when the President nominates new judges, 57% believe he should select judges opposed to gay marriage. Twenty-three percent (23%) believe that this issue should not be an important consideration, and 17% would prefer judges favoring gay marriage.

There are no significant differences between men and women on these issues. Younger voters are more supportive of gay marriage than older voters, but only 38% of those under 30 considered the San Francisco weddings legally valid. Sixty-percent (60%) do not.

African-American voters are somewhat less supportive of gay marriages than white Americans.

From a political perspective, Republicans are largely united on this issue while Democrats are divided on this issue. For example, by a 78% to 18% margin, Republicans said the San Francisco wedding couples were not legally married. Among Democrats, 44% say they were legally married and 50% say they were not.

Those not affiliated with either major party lean to the Republican view by a 54% to 33% margin on this question.

Similar results were found on other questions. Seventy-nine percent (79%) of Republicans believe the Massachusetts judges exceeded their authority. Only 49% of Democrats share that view while 40% do not.

The survey question asking if those who received marriage licenses in San Francisco did not mention that California state law defines marriage as a relationship between a man and a woman. The actual question wording was "If a gay or lesbian couple received a marriage license in San Francisco, do you consider them legally married."

Rasmussen Reports provides daily updates on the 2004 Presidential Election and on the economic confidence of American Consumers and Investors.

Rasmussen Reports is an independent public opinion research firm that provides daily updates on the Presidential election and the nation's economic confidence.

In August, we have released state election polls for Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan, Ohio, Washington, Maine, Ohio, Florida, Michigan, Oregon, New Jersey, Arkansas, New Mexico, California, Missouri, North Carolina, Virginia, Iowa, Georgia, Illinois, and Minnesota.

We also track, on a weekly basis, ratings of how President Bush is handling the economy and Iraq, whether voters prefer Bush or Kerry on the fundamental issues of Election 2004, and who voters believe is winning the War on Terror.