SAN FRANCISCO — California’s highest court has refused to order Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Attorney General Jerry Brown to appeal a ruling that overturned the state’s gay marriage ban.

The state Supreme Court on today denied a conservative legal group’s request to force the officials to defend voter-approved Proposition 8.

The court did not explain why it turned down the request by the Pacific Justice Institute.

Earlier Wednesday, lawyers for Brown and Schwarzenegger said the attorney general and governor have discretion to choose which laws they challenge or defend.

Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker struck down Proposition 8 last month as a violation of gay Californians’ civil rights.