Posted on 06/10/2004 9:26:00 PM PDT by Cracker72
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- A judge Thursday dismissed criminal charges against a small-town mayor for marrying gay couples, saying the state failed to show it has a legitimate interest in banning same-sex weddings.
New Paltz Town Court Justice Jonathan Katz also ruled that prosecutors failed to prove the law New Paltz Mayor Jason West was charged with violating was constitutional.
West had faced the possibility of fines or up to a year in jail for presiding at the weddings of more than two dozen same-sex couples on Feb. 27. The weddings drew the Hudson Valley village of New Paltz into the growing national debate over gay marriage.
West remains barred from marrying same-sex couples under an order issued earlier this week by another judge. But he and his lawyer E. Joshua Rosenkranz called Katz's ruling a major victory for gay rights.
"If history is any guide, this is the beginning of an unstoppable trend in New York," Rosenkranz said.
Ulster County District Attorney Donald Williams said he disagreed with Katz's ruling and would appeal.
West, 27, faced 19 misdemeanor counts of solemnizing marriages for couples without a license.
Isn't all this litigation wonderful? My guild just says thanks.
I need to brush up on my NY State legal terms, but that post sounds like one step above dog catcher.
A pox upon all of these weasels. May their families dry up and disappear through fruitless sons and daughters that take to the lifestyles their parents legitimize.
Gee, I thought this hearing was supposed to be about an individual being in violation of an existing law, not whether the law itself was in violation of the constitution.
It was. This is bull crap.
Welcome to the website for New York State's Town and Village Courts. As the first level trial courts in New York's Unified Court System, the town and village courts are a vital link in New York's justice system. Many New Yorkers will have their first and only court experience in a town or village court. The justices who preside in these courts are instrumental in resolving community disputes involving vehicle and traffic matters, small claims, evictions, civil matters and criminal offenses.
It sounds like a Justice of the Peace here in Texas. They are to be respected, but a J.P. would never assume a state law was invalid just because the Prosecutor had not "proven it was Constitutional."
This reeks--one major purpose of laws is to keep our elected officials from misusing their power. This mayor clearly violated a law he didn't agree with, just as they did in San Francisco. Now we have a lowest-level judge following suit and failing to apply the State Law.
Truly insane ruling if this is true.
New Paltz Town Court Justice Jonathan Katz also ruled that prosecutors failed to prove the law New Paltz Mayor Jason West was charged with violating was constitutional.
I can see it now, the perfect alibi. I shot that man dead sure, but you have never proved that the law I broke was constitutional.
Small town+Town Court Justice = Kangaroo Court
Ask anyone from a small village.
"Isn't all this litigation wonderful? My guild just says thanks."
Well, I guess you could say it keeps people busy. But it's kind of like moving a pile of excrement back and forth, shoveling it here, then shoveling it there. It does provide makework, but it sure stinks up the place.
Homsexual Agenda Ping - A Little Late Evening Interlude. Follow up - such as it is - on the New Paltz NY state mayor-ette, homosexual himself that he is, went out of his way to "marry" a bunch of homosexuals to each other.
I'm sure it made him feel more virtuous about his same sex sodomy.
Let me know if you want on/off this pinglist, and please excuse me for my intolerant attitude tonight!
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