What Conservatives Are Saying About Gay Marriage Trial Judge

Social conservatives are crying foul over the recent San Francisco Chronicle outing of Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker, who is about to rule in the first federal trial to decide the constitutionality of a gay marriage ban. The outing would “explain much of his bizarre behavior throughout the trial,” blustered Matt Barber, director of cultural affairs at Liberty Counsel, a Christian-based group opposed to gay rights.

“At every turn he's displayed extreme bias in favor of his similarly situated homosexual activist plaintiffs. These individuals have eschewed the democratic process and seek to employ like-minded judicial activists to radically redefine the millennia-old definition of natural marriage.”

“In unprecedented form, and to plaintiff's' delight, he has created a circus-like atmosphere throughout,” Barber added.

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Should Judge Walker's Sexual Orientation Disqualify Him From Prop 8 Case? The Short Answer is No

Editor's note: In a February 7 column, the San Francisco Chronicle reported on “the biggest open secret in the landmark trial over same-sex marriage”: that U.S. district judge Vaughn R. Walker, who is presiding over the federal lawsuit challenging California’s Proposition 8, is gay. Erwin Chemerinsky, a top constitutional law scholar and founding dean of the University of California, Irvine, School of Law, discusses the ramifications of the outing, and what effect — if any — it has on the case.

Judges constantly decide cases that might personally affect them or their family members. Female judges of reproductive age are allowed to decide cases involving the availability of abortion. Catholic judges can hear challenges to abortion laws even if their church threatens to deny them communion if they support abortion rights. Judges who are also parents can hear challenges to affirmative action programs even if they have children who might benefit or be hurt by the eventual decision.

The list of situations in which a judge’s life might be affected by the decision is endless. This is insufficient by itself to challenge a judge’s hearing of a case or an ultimate decision.

Full Story from The Advocate
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To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook - just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you'll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We're also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.