12/12/2007
"Friend of the Court" Briefs Delay California Gay Marriage Case
Chief Justice Ronald George told the AP on Tuesday that the same-sex marriage case currently before the California Supreme Court is taking so long because the court has received more "friend of the court" briefs "than any other case in recent memory":
"George said the court has received 45 such briefs from 145 different organizations lobbying the state's high court to decide the case in a variety of ways. An array of civil rights groups and several cities have filed court documents in favor of gay marriage, while politically conservative and religious organizations filed papers supporting Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's position opposing gay marriage. Attorney General Jerry Brown also has filed opposition papers. 'We have a lot of material before us,' George said. 'There is a vast amount of literature to read.' The Supreme Court took up the matter in December 2006. All the required written legal arguments were filed by Nov. 15, George said."
The case is not on the court's January calendar, although George says the court expects to hear the case in 2008.
Gay marriage case gets most "friend-of-court" briefs in memory [ap via san jose mercury news]
Posted 9:05 AM EST by Andy Towle in California, Gay Marriage, News | Permalink
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Okay, why would Jerry Brown, who is famously liberal, file opposition papers with the CA Supreme Court?
Posted by: peterparker | Dec 12, 2007 9:19:48 AM
Knowledge is power. The opposition should view our trailer on Gay Marriage. Produced to educate & defuse the controversy it has a way of opening closed minds & creates an interesting spin on the issue: www.OUTTAKEonline.com
Posted by: Charlotte | Dec 12, 2007 9:29:02 AM
Jerry Brown is just another self loathing closet case who doesn't want openly gay couples to have the same legal protections as their straight counterparts. What a fucking asshole.
Posted by: SFshawn | Dec 12, 2007 9:38:57 AM
Jerry Brown is Attorney General of California and it is his job to defend the current state law defining marriage as barring same gender marriage.
Posted by: Mad Professah | Dec 12, 2007 1:27:24 PM
Mad Professah has it right. Brown from what I know of him, isn't against gay right's, but as the Attorny General it's his job to defend state law, even if he personally is against it.
My Dad and my Uncle(who is gay) both say that Brown has had the gay rumor following him since he first entered politics back in the 70's. He had a couple high profile relationships with a couple well known women back in the day, but hasn't bothered with that sort of thing for years according to my Uncle.
Arrrrrrrnold is personally against gay marriage. But has said if the voters approve it he will back it as Govenator. He keeps citing the referendum passed back a few years ago as why he is against it. Maybe California needs a new refarendum on it. Though it's the Hispanic vote that killed it last time and probably would again.
Posted by: Joshua | Dec 12, 2007 2:39:50 PM
even though jerry is 'just doing his job' it still does leave a bad taste.
as for his orientation, he's been with his current gf, of korean descent, for years now... they lived together in the loft-renovated old sears building in downtown oakland's koreatown during his stint as mayor. i've met him on a couple of occasions and didn't get the slightest gay vibe from him. he's a lousy dresser and, frankly, could use a good scrub... haha.
Posted by: el polacko | Dec 12, 2007 5:30:03 PM