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Prop 8 Judge Says He's Gay —and It's Irrelevant

Vaughn Walker confirms homosexuality

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 8, 2011 2:45 PM CDT

(Newser) – The judge who overturned California's ban on gay marriage acknowledged in an interview for the first time that he's homosexual and that he never considered recusing himself from the case. "If you thought a judge's sexuality, ethnicity, national origin (or) gender would prevent the judge from handling a case, that's a very slippery slope," retired federal Judge Vaughn Walker tells the San Francisco Chronicle. "I don't think it's relevant."

The Chronicle actually reported on Walker's sexual orientation during the Prop 8 trial, prompting critics, like this one, to stay he should have stepped down because he had a conflict of interest. ("He and his partner are now permitted to marry!") Nope, says the gay blog Queerty after the Walker interview. "Immutable characteristics like sexuality, race, and gender are not judicial conflicts of interest."

A 2009 file photo of Judge Vaughn Walker.
A 2009 file photo of Judge Vaughn Walker.   (AP Photo/San Francisco Chronicle, Paul Chinn)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 44 comments
America_Firster
Feb 17, 2012 6:55 PM CST
I would like to tell Vaughn Walker two words: "Bull $#*t!" He has been found in contempt of the Eighty-Eight Precepts by defining natural law and reproduction of European-American offspring. When the Great Collapse comes, judgement will befall upon him and all who defy natural law. The days of the "Weimar America" are slowly coming to the end. The question is White America, which side will you choose?
atbo
Apr 9, 2011 1:11 PM CDT
Why is this news? They ran this last year when he was reviewing Prop 8. I'm in CA, it was all over the news for a day or two.
gagaohlala
Apr 9, 2011 9:11 AM CDT
meh

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