Same-sex marriage proponents expressed disappointment Thursday in an appeals court decision to keep video recordings of the historic Proposition 8 trial sealed, saying the public is being denied an opportunity to bear witness to the “baseless foundation of fear” that opponents waged during the proceedings.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals said the tapes should not be made public because the trial judge promised the defenders of Proposition 8 that they would be used for internal court purposes only, a clear victory for opponents of same-sex marriage.

“The American people deserve a court system that upholds the integrity of the judicial process,” said Austin R. Nimocks, an attorney for ProtectMarriage, the sponsors of Proposition 8.

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The ruling overturned a lower court decision in favor of making the video public, a position favored by the news media and gay rights groups. The same 9th Circuit panel is considering whether Proposition 8 is constitutional.

That decision, which could come any day, is expected to go to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Thursday’s ruling noted that retired Chief Judge U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker, who presided over the Proposition 8 trial and ruled the measure unconstitutional, repeatedly told opponents of gay marriage that the trial video would not be broadcast.

Setting aside Walker’s commitments would “compromise the integrity of the judicial process,” the court said. “The interest in preserving respect for our system of justice is clearly a compelling reason for maintaining the seal on the recording.”

Theodore J. Boutrous Jr., an attorney for Proposition 8’s challengers, expressed disappointment but noted that the legal team was “looking at the big picture and hoping for a ruling soon” that strikes down the marriage ban.