• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Towleroad Gay News

Gay Blog Towleroad: More than gay news | gay men

  • Body
  • Daily Resist
  • POLITICS
  • Travel
  • Music
  • Theatre
  • Film
  • TV
  • Sports
  • Business
  • Men
  • Marriage Equality
  • Space
  • Trans Rights
  • Books
  • Science
  • Gay Iconography
  • TowleREAD

Pro-Equality Justice Set to Become Chief of MA Supreme Court

November 5, 2010 by Andy Towle

Pro-equality Massachusetts Supreme Court Associate Justice Roderick Ireland is poised to become the first Black man to lead Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court after nomination yesterday by Deval Patrick.

Via MassLive: Ireland

Ireland was with the majority when the state Supreme Judicial Court in a 4-3 landmark decision legalized gay marriage in 2003. 

Of all the court members, Ireland may be the strongest on gay rights. In 2006, he broke with other members on the SJC when it upheld former Gov. W. Mitt Romney’s use of a 1913 law to ban same-sex couples from other states from marrying in Massachusetts. 

Under the 1913 law, Romney had said, nonresidents could not marry here if their union would be banned in their home state and they have no intention of moving to Massachusetts. 

As the lone dissenter in the ruling, Ireland said that it was “fundamentally unfair” for the state to resurrect and selectively enforce “a moribund statute” that was dormant for almost a century. Critics said the 1913 law was originally enacted to block interracial marriages. 

Patrick and state legislators in 2008 repealed the old law. 

Ireland is expected to be confirmed in December following a public interview with the Governor's Council.

Filed Under: Massachusetts, News Tagged With: Deval Patrick, gay marriage, Massachusetts, News, Roderick Ireland

Recent Posts

  • Billie Eilish, Diet Coke Button, Fleet Foxes, Jane Krakowski, Faultline Bar, Dave Chappelle, Miley Cyrus: HOT LINKS

    Billie Eilish, Diet Coke Button, Fleet Foxes, Jane Krakowski, Faultline Bar, Dave Chappelle, Miley Cyrus: HOT LINKS

    34 mins ago
  • Visit Key West Like a Queen: Drag Icons Give Their Tourist Tips

    Visit Key West Like a Queen: Drag Icons Give Their Tourist Tips

    2 hours ago
  • Chuck Schumer Grimaces After Saying Donald Trump ‘Incited the Erection’ — WATCH

    Chuck Schumer Grimaces After Saying Donald Trump ‘Incited the Erection’ — WATCH

    2 hours ago
  • GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn Lied About Training for Paralympics

    GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn Lied About Training for Paralympics

    5 hours ago
Previous Post: « Gay Chicago Schools Chief Ron Huberman to Step Down
Next Post: Watch: Pentagon Spokesman Says DADT Study on Track for Dec. 1, Won’t Urge Senate to Take Up Repeal »

Primary Sidebar

  • Billie Eilish, Diet Coke Button, Fleet Foxes, Jane Krakowski, Faultline Bar, Dave Chappelle, Miley Cyrus: HOT LINKS

  • Visit Key West Like a Queen: Drag Icons Give Their Tourist Tips

  • Chuck Schumer Grimaces After Saying Donald Trump ‘Incited the Erection’ — WATCH

Recent Posts

  • Billie Eilish, Diet Coke Button, Fleet Foxes, Jane Krakowski, Faultline Bar, Dave Chappelle, Miley Cyrus: HOT LINKS

    Billie Eilish, Diet Coke Button, Fleet Foxes, Jane Krakowski, Faultline Bar, Dave Chappelle, Miley Cyrus: HOT LINKS

    34 mins ago
  • Visit Key West Like a Queen: Drag Icons Give Their Tourist Tips

    Visit Key West Like a Queen: Drag Icons Give Their Tourist Tips

    2 hours ago
  • Chuck Schumer Grimaces After Saying Donald Trump ‘Incited the Erection’ — WATCH

    Chuck Schumer Grimaces After Saying Donald Trump ‘Incited the Erection’ — WATCH

    2 hours ago
  • GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn Lied About Training for Paralympics

    GOP Rep. Madison Cawthorn Lied About Training for Paralympics

    5 hours ago
  • Senate to Get Article of Impeachment from House on Monday

    Senate to Get Article of Impeachment from House on Monday

    6 hours ago
  • Newt Gingrich Tells Sean Hannity That Democrats Want to ‘Exterminate’ Republicans: WATCH

    Newt Gingrich Tells Sean Hannity That Democrats Want to ‘Exterminate’ Republicans: WATCH

    7 hours ago
  • ‘Years & Years’ Covers Pet Shop Boys’ ‘It’s a Sin’ — LISTEN

    ‘Years & Years’ Covers Pet Shop Boys’ ‘It’s a Sin’ — LISTEN

    7 hours ago
  • Schumer Urged to Deny Committee Seats to Hawley, Cruz, and Other Republicans Who ‘Incited Deadly Insurrection’

    Schumer Urged to Deny Committee Seats to Hawley, Cruz, and Other Republicans Who ‘Incited Deadly Insurrection’

    8 hours ago
  • ‘QAnon Shaman’ and Capitol Insurrectionist Jacob Chansley Regrets Being ‘Duped’ by Trump: WATCH

    ‘QAnon Shaman’ and Capitol Insurrectionist Jacob Chansley Regrets Being ‘Duped’ by Trump: WATCH

    9 hours ago
  • Alice Hoagland, Mother of Gay 9/11 Hero Mark Bingham and LGBTQ Ally, Has Died

    Alice Hoagland, Mother of Gay 9/11 Hero Mark Bingham and LGBTQ Ally, Has Died

    9 hours ago

Most Commented

  • Advertise
  • Contact Us
  • About Towleroad
  • Towleroad on Social Media
  • Privacy Policy

Footer

Copyright © 2021 · Log in