Judge Strikes Down Ga. Ban on Gay Marriage

AP ^ | 5/16/6 | GREG BLUESTEIN

[SmithL]

Isn't THAT special?

[Luke21]

What gives a superior court judge reason to rule on state matters?

[madprof98]

The ruling by Fulton County Superior Court Judge Constance C. Russell had been eagerly awaited by gay-rights supporters . . .

I'll bet.

[AmishDude]

Ridiculous. Her basis for this ruling is absurd. Judges are completely out of control.

[veronica]

Voters be damned!

[xcamel]

"But ultimately it is those safeguards that preserve judicial tyrrany, because they ensure that the wishes of the people are constrained by the superior intellect of law," the judge wrote.

More in line with what he meant, IMNSHO.

[cdga5for4]

This may be okay. Looks like potential for two more voter initiatives on the ballot.

[lugsoul]

The Honorable Constance Russell. Not a leading light of the Fulton Country Bench.

The Georgia Supreme Court could be interesting. They did strike down the state sodomy statute.

[lexington minuteman 1775]

Out of control judges ought to be unconstitutional.

[MarcusTulliusCicero]

The ruling is nonsense. The text of the amendment is as follows:

Proposing an amendment to the Constitution so as to provide that this state shall recognize as marriage only the union of man and woman; to provide for submission of this amendment for ratification or rejection; and for other purposes.

The judge's comment was: "People who believe marriages between men and women should have a unique and privileged place in our society may also believe that same-sex relationships should have some place — although not marriage," she wrote. "The single-subject rule protects the right of those people to hold both views and reflect both judgments by their vote."

HER statement, not the text of the Amendment, deals with two issues. The text of the Amendment deals with marriage only. It defines it as between a man and a woman. The state would still be free to pass legislation granting a level of recognition to same sex relationships as long as it didn't have equal status with marriage.

[Heartofsong83]

Is there an override clause the legislature can use?

[georgia2006]

that was the SCOTUS

[fhlh]

agreed... how did we let this republic become controlled by Judges and not the people?

[generally]

I agree. But look on the bright side - this will give Ga. an excuse to put it on the ballot again, thus drawing plenty of conservatives to the polls.

[Beagle8U]

"Ridiculous. Her basis for this ruling is absurd. Judges are completely out of control."

She didn't like the way people voted so she searched for a flaw in the clear intent of voters to give queers another chance to block the bill.

[heights]

Leftist see their judges as anointed from on high.

[SittinYonder]

What gives a superior court judge reason to rule on state matters?

The Georgia Constitution. Who do you think should be ruling on state matters?

[puroresu]

So let me get this right. Ballot initiatives in Georgia must deal with one issue only. Voters approved a ballot initiative limiting marriage to one man and one woman. This judge says that ballot initiative violated the one issue rule by not also addressing the issue of civil unions. Okaaaayyyy!

Hopefully this idiotic ruling will be appealed.

[appleharvey]

Was this Judge appointed, or elected? If elected, by whom?

[Chani]

Ping for later