The federal trial over gay marriage has rested, and we won’t know who won until U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker calls the lawyers back to hear closing arguments and issues his ruling. That is likely to take several weeks. But it’s already clear that the verdict itself will be only a beginning, as all sides shift their focus from testimony to the real task of convincing federal appellate judges, and ultimately the U.S. Supreme Court, to rule their way.

What’s equally clear now, after nearly three weeks of evidence, is that no matter what happens, the debate over gay marriage will never again be the same.

Read the rest of Michael A. Lindenberger’s Time article here.