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Federal District Judge Callie Granade has struck down two Alabama state laws banning same-sex marriage. Alabama is now the 37th state where same-sex marriage is legal.
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U.S. District Court Judge Karen Schreier has ruled than South Dakota’s ban on same-sex marriage is in violation of the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the U.S. Constitution. “Plaintiffs have a fundamental right to marry,” wrote Judge Schreier. “South Dakota law deprives them of that right solely because they are same-sex couples and without sufficient justification.” The judge stayed her ruling pending appeals, which SD Attorney General Marty Jackley has promised. The attorney for the successful plaintiffs intends to appeal the stay.
More:
“Judge strikes down South Dakota gay marriage ban,” Reid Wilson, Washington Post
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Merry Christmas (I Don’t Want To Fight Tonight)” by The Ramones
Related:
“Why is Christmas one of the deadliest days of the year?” Chris Gayomali, The Week
“How to ruin Christmas: A holiday guide to arguing with conservative relatives,” Alex Pareene, Salon
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The Supreme Court declined to reconsider federal appeals court rulings overturning bans on gay marriage in five states. Same-sex marriage is now legal in Virginia, Utah, Oklahoma, Indiana and Wisconsin. Six other states — Colorado, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, West Virginia and Wyoming — bound by the same appellate rulings had stayed same-sex marriage pending the Supreme Court’s review, and should get with the program shortly. That means marriage equality is the law in 30 states and the District of Columbia.
“The more that he describes his wife as crazy, then it begs the question of well, if your wife was crazy, why didn’t you stop her?” — Andrew Cowan, former federal prosecutor.
“But the fact is, is the juror thinking this guy is a cad, or been-there-done-that, ‘I have a wife just like that, I come home and this is all I hear?'” — Attorney Barbara Van Gelder.
Quoted in:
“McDonnell’s ‘Crazy Wife’ Defense Is Totally Unprecedented,” Catherine Thompson , Talking Points Memo
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Former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell testified on his own behalf last week in his corruption and bribery trial. The devoted husband and father of five of the 2009 gubernatorial campaign explained that all the unfortunate events in question could be blamed on his screaming lunatic harridan of a wife, Maureen McDonnell.
There’s no real political downside for Mr. McDonnell, who already lost any chance of getting women’s votes when he backed a vaginal probe clause in a proposed Virginia bill. On the other hand, what Real American Guy wouldn’t want to drive a Ferrari and own a Rolex and doesn’t blame stuff on his wife?
Right before the trial, Mr. McDonnell moved out of the house he shared with his wife of 38 years. He’s been living with his priest at the rectory of St. Patrick’s Church in Richmond. He’s probably thinking that, if the couple are convicted, he can claim sanctuary and Maureen can plead insanity.
Before he was Virginia’s Governor or Attorney General, Robert Francis McDonnell wrote a Masters Thesis at CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network) University, now called Regent University. The thesis: “The Republican Party’s Vision for the Family: The Compelling Issue of The Decade” (1989). It’s in the Regent U Library, but the Washington Post posted it online during the 2009 Virginia gubernatorial campaign.
On page 65 of the thesis (page 71 of the PDF) Mr. McConnell lists the “real enemies of the traditional family” as “materialism, irresponsibility, feminism, lust, and ultimately selfishness….” Well, the McDonnell corruption trial hasn’t involved feminism so far, anyway. On the other hand, the author of that thesis did acknowledge that his wife Maureen provided “expert clerical support” for the 94-page document ….
More:
“Focus on the Family,” Daliah Lithwick, Slate
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The 10th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld an earlier Federal court decision and struck down Oklahoma’s same-sex marriage ban, ruling it violates the Constitution’s Equal Protection Clause and Due Process Clause. The same Federal court rejected a similar law in Utah. Either or both of those cases may now be brought before the U.S. Supreme Court.
The full Oklahoma opinion is here.
More:
“Court Finds Oklahoma Cannot Ban Gay Nuptials,” Jack Healy and Adam Liptak, New York Times
“Appeals court upholds ruling voiding Oklahoma gay marriage ban,” Heide Brandes, Reuters
“Federal appeals court rejects Oklahoma’s same-sex marriage ban,” German Lopez, Vox
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U.S. District Court Judge Richard L. Young ruled Wednesday that Indiana’s state law banning same-sex couples from marrying or having their marriages from other states recognized is unconstitutional. Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller filed an emergency motion to stay the ruling pending an appeal, but the ruling took effect immediately and Hoosier couples rushed to marry.
We think it’s time to cue Jim Nabors:
