Group demands that Lockyer charge mayor for gay marriages

SACRAMENTO – The head of a conservative group demanded Wednesday that Attorney General Bill Lockyer file criminal charges against San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and others who have performed gay marriages.

"If New York State can charge a little mayor with violating state law, then California's attorney general should have no problem charging a corrupt mayor of a big city with violating the law," said Randy Thomasson, executive director of the Campaign for California Families.

Prosecutors in New York have filed 19 counts against Jason West, the mayor of New Paltz, a village 75 miles north of New York City, for allegedly marrying same-sex couples in violation of the state domestic relations law.

Scott Lively, a Fair Oaks attorney and the head of the Pro-Family Law Center, appeared at a news conference with Thomasson and was more outspoken, saying Newsom and other officials were "engaged in civil rebellion."

"He's setting an example of anarchy for the entire nation," Lively said. "He does not deserve to be sitting in the office he holds now. He does indeed deserve to be arrested for these crimes."

A spokeswoman for Lockyer, Hallye Jordan, said it's a misdemeanor in California to marry same-sex couples, but she said the attorney general's office prefers to let the courts decide if gay marriages are legal in the state.

"The attorney general believes the best way to resolve the issue is to seek a final resolution by the California Supreme Court, which is what we are aggressively doing," she said.

More than 3,400 gay weddings have taken place in San Francisco since the city began issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples Feb. 12.

Last Friday, the state Supreme Court denied Lockyer's request to immediately shut down the ceremonies. Instead, the justices told the city and opponents of gay marriage to file new legal briefs by this Friday to respond to the attorney general's petition.

Thomasson suggested that if Lockyer fails to pursue criminal charges against Newsom and other San Francisco officials, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger should step in. But he was unclear about what steps he expected the Republican governor to take.

Peter Ragone, a spokesman for Newsom, called the news conference a "silly stunt" and said Thomasson and Lively "should be honest with the people of California and admit that they're frustrated with the fact that the legal process has not bent to their right-wing dogma."

"Our view is that these marriages are allowed under California Constitution, which is the highest law of the land. That's why we're in court."

Debbie Mesloh, a spokeswoman for the San Francisco district attorney's office, said that prosecutors there also have no intention of filing charges against Newsom and other officials because of the marriages.

"The district attorney's priorities are prosecuting homicides and cases where people are physically harming each other," she said.

The head of a conservative group demanded Wednesday that Attorney General Bill Lockyer file criminal charges against San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom and others who have performed gay marriages.

Should have been done long ago, IMNSHO.

3 posted on 03/03/2004 7:03:38 PM PST by Prime Choice (I'm pro-choice. I just think the "choice" should be made *before* having sex.)

For what its worth, here's what Tom McClintock said about California enforcement authority on radio yesterday: ***Asked why the Mayor Newsom hasn't been issued a summons for arrest, he said he didn't know. He said the "Attorney General has moved very lacsidasically" (SP?). Unlike New Mexico, he said the Chief law enforcement in California is the Governor, citing Brown v. Deukmejian, which found the responsibility and authority falls with the Governor if the AG fails to act and take direct action to enforce the law.

he said the Chief law enforcement in California is the Governor, citing Brown v. Deukmejian, which found the responsibility and authority falls with the Governor if the AG fails to act and take direct action to enforce the law.....BINGO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 posted on 03/03/2004 8:37:17 PM PST by GrandMoM (how could I not have hope in JESUS....MY WOUNDS WERE HEALED BY HIS WOUNDS-Mel Gibson)

Arrest, charge and recall.

Perhaps we are all, just one kiss away from a gay marriage.

6 posted on 03/03/2004 8:45:14 PM PST by justrepublican (Screaming like a keynote speaker at a Wellstone Memorial.)

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