A line has begun forming at the Supreme Court for people who want to attend next week's arguments in two gay marriage cases.

Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathleen Arberg confirmed by email that people began lining up at some point Thursday.

The justices will hear arguments Tuesday on California's Proposition 8 ban on same-sex marriage and on Wednesday on the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as between one man and one woman.

Lines frequently form in advance for the free tickets to high-profile arguments, but five days before a case is particularly early. For last year's three days of arguments over the Affordable Care Act, the line began about three days early.