Obama asks US justices to overturn gay marriage ban

President Barack Obama listens as Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe makes a statement to reporters, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013, in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

Lawrence Hurley

THE Obama administration outlined its argument why the U.S. Supreme Court should strike down a federal law that defines marriage as between a man and woman.