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NEWS ABOUT: Vaughn Walker

Gay Marriage Opponents Fail in California Court Bid

Gay judge didn't need to recuse himself on Prop 8, says ruling

(Newser) - A victory for gay marriage in California today: The judge who overturned the state's ban last year was under no obligation to recuse himself because he is gay and in a long-term relationship, a federal judge ruled. "It is not reasonable to presume that a judge is incapable... More »

Key Ruling Due Today on Calif. Gay Marriage Ban

Judge to rule on gay colleague's decision striking down Prop. 8

(Newser) - Chief US District Judge James Ware will rule today on whether Judge Vaughn R. Walker's decision to strike down the state's gay marriage ban should be invalidated because the judge is gay and in a long-term relationship. Walker "occupied precisely those same shoes as the plaintiffs" when... More »

Court Hearing Begins on Prop 8 Ruling by Gay Judge

Critics argue Judge Vaughn Walker should have recused himself

(Newser) - A court will decide whether to strike Judge Vaughn Walker’s ruling on California’s Proposition 8 from the legal record because he is in a committed homosexual relationship, the Los Angeles Times reports. Gay marriage critic ProtectMarriage argues that because Walker was in said relationship when he struck down... More »

Void Prop 8 Ruling: Gay Marriage Foes

Judge's decade-long same-sex relationship a conflict of interest

(Newser) - The ruling against California's controversial Proposition 8 should be set aside, a group argued yesterday, not because the judge who ruled against it is gay—but because he's in a long-term relationship with his partner. ProtectMarriage, which sponsored the 2008 ballot initiative prohibiting gay marriage, filed a motion... More »

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

Vaughn Walker confirms homosexuality

(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,... More »

Prop 8 May Go to Supreme Court—This Week

Case could move up ladder...fast

(Newser) - It has always seemed likely that the Proposition 8 case would end up before the Supreme Court—and it could happen as early as this week, Jesse McKinley writes in the New York Times . Judge Walker last week gave the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals until Wednesday to review... More »

Judge Keeps Gay Marriages on Hold in California

He gives opponents one week to appeal

(AP) - A federal judge has ruled that gay marriages in California should remain on hold until at least Aug. 18. Judge Vaughn Walker today set the deadline to give gay marriage opponents time to appeal to the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals. If the appeals court fails to act by... More »

Prop 8 Judge Comes Under the Microscope

He's an independent conservative...who might happen to be gay

(Newser) - Judge Vaughn Walker is taking heat for his ruling that Proposition 8 is unconstitutional, but the independent-minded Reagan appointee is used to controversy, the New York Times reports. There was the time he publicly supported legalizing drugs, or the time he ruled that police had acted reasonably by pepper-spraying anti-logging... More »

Prop 8 Ruling Tough for Supreme Court to Overturn

Judge Vaughn Walker's findings are extensive, well-reasoned

(Newser) - Judge Vaughn Walker’s masterfully written ruling striking down Proposition 8 “was written for a court of one,” namely Anthony Kennedy, writes Dahlia Lithwick of Slate . Walker quotes extensively from Kennedy’s own findings (see Quotes, left), and his “findings of fact” section “knits together the... More »

Calif. Ruling Today on Gay Right to Marriage

But decision will surely be appealed

(Newser) - A federal judge will make a major ruling today on whether or not gay marriage is a constitutionally guaranteed right. Judge Vaughn R. Walker, a George H.W. Bush nominee, will decide whether California’s Proposition 8 violates the equal protection guarantee in the US Constitution, based on a 2½... More »

Feds May Have to Pay Terror Group for Rights Violations

Wiretap ruling leaves Holder facing dilemma

(Newser) - Eric Holder's Justice Department would probably like to accept last month's ruling that warrantless wiretapping under the Bush administration was illegal. There's a big catch, however, reports Newsweek : doing so would mean the department may have to pay damages to the Islamic charity that was wiretapped, which has been declared... More »

Judge Hearing Prop 8 Case Is Gay

Not that there's anything wrong with that ... at least for now

(Newser) - The judge who will rule on the constitutionality of California’s gay marriage ban is gay. Vaughn Walker, who drew the assignment at random, has a reputation as a conservative and libertarian. Gay activists say his sexual orientation isn't an issue, but a rep for the group that sponsored the... More »

Gay-Marriage Foes Rest; Case Goes to Judge

Walker will deliberate; closing arguments in March or April

(AP) - The first federal case to decide if the US Constitution prevents states from stopping same-sex weddings came to an anti-climatic break today, with the defense resting its case after nearly 12 days of wide-ranging testimony on the meaning of marriage, the nature of sexual orientation, and the role of religion... More »

US Marriage So Weak, Opening to Gays Will Kill It: Witness

Polygamy will follow, Prop 8 supporter adds

(Newser) - The institution of marriage is so weak in the US that opening it to same-sex couples will likely kill it completely—and perhaps even lead shortly thereafter to legalized polygamy, a supporter of California’s ban on gay marriage testified today. David Blankenhorn, president of the Institute for American Values... More »

US Judge Boots Warrantless Wiretap Cases Vs. Telecoms

(AP) - A federal judge has tossed out more than three dozen lawsuits filed against the nation's telecommunications companies for allegedly taking part in the government's email and telephone eavesdropping program that was done without court approval. The dismissals were widely expected after Congress in July agreed on new surveillance rules that... More »

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