January 31, 2009
The Amicus Brief
written by Steven Barrymore
The words Amicus Brief, read like an action movie title. And there is plenty of action swirling around California’s Proposition 8 (same sex marriage). The opponents, 40 law firms and other interested parties, to California Proposition 8 have filed an Amicus Brief with the California Supreme Court. An Amicus Brief is one of those legal terms “literally translated as friend of the court, that refers to someone, not a party to a case, who volunteers to offer information on a point of law or some other aspect of the case to assist the court in deciding a matter before it.” (1)
Some big players have entered into the fray of Amicus Brief filers, including Google. Google filed a joint brief along with the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, H5 and Levi Strauss. Google’s portion of the filing states “Google believes that all of its employees deserve fundamental civil rights, and that when employees are harmed, businesses suffer”. A pdf version of the joint brief filing can be found at The National Center for Lesbian Rights NCLR.
God speaks, or so is said
The internet is all a buzz. Apparently a religious organization, Kingdom of Heaven World Divine Mission, has filed an Amicus Brief with the California Supreme Court on behalf of the Almighty Eternal Creator (a.k.a. God) in favor of Proposition 8. I have seen a few web links to this filing, but unfortunately these links lead to a Sorry, the page you requested was not found page on the California Courts website. Bummer, and I wanted to read God’s words.
The mind wanders
What is wrong with same sex marriage. If two people love and respect each other, then allow them the right to marriage. Drugs, sex, rock and roll are the main influence on children, not who is getting married to whom.
But there is a limit. I am not for people marrying domestic pets. Mainly for the following reasons. Dogs are just too lazy. They lay around and don’t get involved in running a household. And cats. Ask a cat to do something and you are promptly given the paw.
Proposition 8 is no joke. Both sides to this are going to have a lot to write about and say in the years to come. It ain’t over yet, and when the full figured lady sings, it still won’t be over.
And as for my own involvement in this? I have created a line of support items for you to wear, drink out of and adorn your car with. Perhaps a Supreme Court justice will be in their car behind you in traffic and glance at your new Proposition 8 bumper sticker. The statement made may be of influence.
Proposition 8 statement items
May 26, 2009 Update: The California Supreme Court, by a 6-1 vote, rejects challenges to Prop. 8. “The court also unanimously held that the new constitutional provision applies only prospectively, and does not affect the continued validity of the estimated 18,000 marriages of same-sex couples that occurred prior to November 5, 2008″, reported in the California Courts news release. The news release (pdf format) can be viewed at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/presscenter/newsreleases/NR29-09.PDF on the California Courts website.
More states are legalizing same sex marriage, with even more states exploring the possibility of legalization. Will this decision be the end to the same sex marriage battle in California?
March 03, 2009 Update: The California Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in the case of Proposition 8 – ban on same sex marriage. The hearing can be viewed online at http://www.courtinfo.ca.gov/
courts/supreme/highprofile/prop8viewing.htm starting at 9:00 AM Pacific Time March 05, 2009. The hearing will be held at Earl Warren Building, 350 McAllister Street, San Francisco, CA, doors open at 7:30 a.m. on March 5. Only 20 public seats will be available in the courtroom. A historic event for California and the nation.
(1) Wikipedia definition
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