The U.S. Supreme Court will take up two cases on the subject of same-sex marriage Friday, including one brought on behalf of a New York woman challenging part of the Defense of Marriage Act.

Edie Windsor was forced to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars in federal estate taxes when her wife died because the act denies federal benefits to same sex spouses.

The justices will also review a federal appeals court ruling that struck down California's gay marriage ban.

That case could lead to a ruling on whether or not gay Americans have the right to marry.