• 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

  • Travel
  • Sports
  • Law/Justice
  • Celebrities
  • Republicans
  • Madonna
  • Books
  • Men
  • Trans Rights
  • Royals
  • Monkeypox
  • Adam Lambert got a job at Starbucks to buy makeup
  • Sir Elton John walks six miles a week in his swimming pool
  • Christine and the Queens hails pop icon Madonna

9th Circuit Names 3 Judge Panel To Hear Same-Sex Marriage Cases

Sean Mandell September 2, 2014

9TH

The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has announced the 3 judge panel that will hear challenges to same-sex marriage bans in Idaho, Hawaii and Nevada: Judges Stephen Reinhardt, Ronald M. Gould and Marsha S. Berzon. All three were appointed by Democrats and, as Equality on Trial points out, are considered to be "some of the most liberal appeals court judges in the country":

Judge Stephen Reinhardt, nominated by President Carter, is a highly respected liberal judge, known for writing the opinion in the Prop 8 case when it came before the Ninth Circuit; Judge Reinhardt also wrote the opinion inSmithKline Beecham v. Abbott Labs, which held that a heightened level of judicial scrutiny is required for laws that discriminate based on sexual orientation, and that jurors can’t be discriminated against on that basis.

Judge Marsha Berzon, nominated by President Clinton, once clerked for Justice William Brennan, and is considered to be a solidly liberal judge. She joined Judge Reinhardt’s opinion in SmithKline as well.

The third judge on the panel is Judge Ronald Gould, also nominated by President Clinton. Judge Gould wrote the Ninth Circuit’s opinion in Witt v. Dept. of Air Force, challenging Major Margaret Witt’s discharge from the military on the basis of her sexual orientation under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell. That decision held that heightened scrutiny is required under the Supreme Court’s decision in Lawrence v. Texas, and it led to an eventual ruling that Witt’s discharge was unconstitutional.

The appeals court’s decisions in SmithKline and Witt had already ensured a more difficult path to victory in the cases for the state officials and groups defending the same-sex marriage bans. This panel makes it even less likely, though not impossible, the bans would be upheld.

The 9th Circuit assigns cases to judges on a random basis.

You'll recall that when the Prop. 8 case came before Judge Reinhardt, he denied a request that he recuse himself from the case because his wife, head of the Southern California chapter of the ACLU, was "an outspoken opponent of Proposition 8 and taken part in legal proceedings to overturn the voter-approved law."

The cases are set to be heard on Setpember 8th.

Topics: News, Supreme Court More Posts About: gay marriage, Hawaii, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, News

Related Posts
  • Hawaii volcano shoots lava fountains 200 feet high: USGS
  • Five takeaways from the US midterms
  • Republican ‘red wave’ hopes fizzle in US midterm vote
  • Sir Elton John walks six miles a week in his swimming pool

    Sir Elton John walks six miles a week in his swimming pool

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Sir Elton John got into shape for his tour by walking six miles a week in his swimming pool. The ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ started in 2018 and is due to …Read More »
  • Christine and the Queens hails pop icon Madonna

    Christine and the Queens hails pop icon Madonna

    Published by BANG Showbiz English Christine and the Queens thinks Madonna is the “most emblematic female voice” in the pop world. The 34-year-old singer worked with Madonna on his new album, ‘Paranoia, Angels, True Love’, and …Read More »
  • Transgender Woman Was Assaulted, Harassed And ‘Humiliated’ By A TSA Agent At JFK Airport

    Transgender Woman Was Assaulted, Harassed And ‘Humiliated’ By A TSA Agent At JFK Airport

    Published by Radar Online mega A transgender woman was harassed and assaulted by a TSA agent at JFK Airport. The victim was allegedly punched, humiliated and left in tears while crying out for help after her …Read More »
  • Kevin Bacon Praises ‘Wigloose: The Rusical’ Amid Anti-Drag Politics

    Kevin Bacon Praises ‘Wigloose: The Rusical’ Amid Anti-Drag Politics

    Published by uInterview.com As part of season 15 of RuPaul’s Drag Race, the drag queens put on a stunning show of Wigloose: The Rusical about the queens overcoming a small town that tries to ban drag. …Read More »
Previous Post: « Dallas Cowboys Planning to Sign Michael Sam
Next Post: Gay Couple Ejected From Montréal Bar For Kissing »

Primary Sidebar

Adjacent News

  • New WSJ poll shows bad news for Ron DeSantis’ ‘anti-woke’ agenda

    New WSJ poll shows bad news for Ron DeSantis’ ‘anti-woke’ agenda

  • Walter Cole aka: Darcelle, Guinness World Record holder for oldest drag queen performer, dies at 92

    Walter Cole aka: Darcelle, Guinness World Record holder for oldest drag queen performer, dies at 92

  • ‘Appalling’: UK police urged to stop strip-searching children

    ‘Appalling’: UK police urged to stop strip-searching children

Good Trash: Going to Read It Somewhere, Y'know

  • Harry Styles, Emily Ratajkowski And Olivia Wilde Spark ‘Throuple’ Chatter In Hollywood After Wild Make-Out Session Caught On Video

    Harry Styles, Emily Ratajkowski And Olivia Wilde Spark ‘Throuple’ Chatter In Hollywood After Wild Make-Out Session Caught On Video

  • Jennifer Aniston Recalls Cher Poking Fun At Her For Eating All The Cold Cuts In Her Home During Actress’ High School Days

    Jennifer Aniston Recalls Cher Poking Fun At Her For Eating All The Cold Cuts In Her Home During Actress’ High School Days

  • Tony Robinson recalls Miriam Margolyes ‘sexual encounter’: ‘You put your hand down my trousers’

    Tony Robinson recalls Miriam Margolyes ‘sexual encounter’: ‘You put your hand down my trousers’

RSS Partner Links

  • An error has occurred, which probably means the feed is down. Try again later.

Most Recent

  • Adam Lambert got a job at Starbucks to buy makeup

    Adam Lambert got a job at Starbucks to buy makeup

  • Sir Elton John walks six miles a week in his swimming pool

    Sir Elton John walks six miles a week in his swimming pool

  • Christine and the Queens hails pop icon Madonna

    Christine and the Queens hails pop icon Madonna

  • Transgender Woman Was Assaulted, Harassed And ‘Humiliated’ By A TSA Agent At JFK Airport

    Transgender Woman Was Assaulted, Harassed And ‘Humiliated’ By A TSA Agent At JFK Airport

  • Kevin Bacon Praises ‘Wigloose: The Rusical’ Amid Anti-Drag Politics

    Kevin Bacon Praises ‘Wigloose: The Rusical’ Amid Anti-Drag Politics

  • Strong turnout in Cuba’s national legislative elections -government

    Strong turnout in Cuba’s national legislative elections -government

  • Tucker Carlson Backtracks After Claiming He ‘Passionately’ Hates Donald Trump: ‘I Love’ Him ‘As A Person’

    Tucker Carlson Backtracks After Claiming He ‘Passionately’ Hates Donald Trump: ‘I Love’ Him ‘As A Person’

  • Toothpaste tablets and syrup on tap: US refill shops cut the container

    Toothpaste tablets and syrup on tap: US refill shops cut the container

Most Commented

Social

Twitter @tlrd | Facebook | Instagram @tlrd

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

×