Margaret Marshall is in her late fifties and is married to Anthony Lewis, former columnist for the New York Times, who is twenty-years her senior. She apparently has no children and some say that as a result, she has no appreciation for the feelings of women who do. They say she has never had any experience with a family and has focused only on her career.
The Globe lobbied heavily for Marshall in its Editorial, opinion and news pages. The appointment was strongly opposed by many. In a "news story" on Oct. 12, 1999, titled "Rulings show nominee a moderate jurist with progressive views," the first sentence was: "Sex offenders have rights. … Modern families no longer mean just mom, dad, and the kids."
The paper cited some of those "moderate" rulings:
o The Globe wrote: "When the SJC last August ruled that anyone convicted of a sex crime is entitled to a hearing before being listed on the state's sex-offender registry, Marshall wrote: 'The burden will be on the sex offender board to establish at the hearing that the offender poses a risk to vulnerable populations.'"
o Concerning an opinion where Marshall had struck down a Boston ordinance creating domestic partners because it was clearly forbidden by state law, the Globe wrote:
"Marshall urged state lawmakers to craft legislation that acknowledges the place of nontraditional families in modern life. 'We recognize that . . . [a] "family" may no longer be constituted simply of a wage-earning father, his dependent wife, and the couple's children,' Marshall wrote. Nonetheless, 'Adjustments in the legislation to reflect these new social and economic realities must come from the Legislature.'" (The foregoing text appeared in the Globe exactly as printed here.)
The news article also claimed: "An examination of her rulings and the comments of colleagues indicate a moderate jurist who tempers some of her progressive views with judicial restraint and an awareness of the powers and limits of the courts. In the tradition-bound court that convenes in a high-rise on Pemberton Square, Marshall, the controversial chief justice nominee, has also added energy and spice to a frequently bland bench."
Marshall graduated from college in her South African homeland in 1966 and came here two years later for a master's degree from Harvard. After Yale Law School, she became a partner in the prestigious firm of Choate, Hall and Stewart, leaving there to become General Counsel for Harvard University. She was appointed to the SJC in 1996 and then elevated by Gov. Cellucci to Chief in 1999.
Imagine the outrage if she had gone duck-hunting with Bonauto.
At least they didn't do anything so outrageous as duck hunting together.
Are you kidding? They would never allowed a pro-life judge to even hear an abortion case. They would DEMAND that judge be removed from the case. But when it comes to a judge show obvious prejudice in their favor, they suddenly have no problem.
Democrats plan to rule by a new form of government. They call it Hypocracy.
I would say she "co-lewded" with the gay lobby...
This would be the kind of Justice that ol' Chucky Schumer wants to see come up for approval.
wow this is big