CA Supreme Court Refuses to Delay Gay Marriage Rights.

This morning California's Supreme Court refused to 'delay' implementation of its historic decision that the California Constitution gives same sex couples the right to marry .

The same four out of 7 justices that ruled in favor of recognizing the rights of gay Californians to wed, also voted against the delay.

Now if anyone is thinking that electing more Republicans would fix this problem give them a link to  or show them this post entry.

 Here is a link to copy that will take clicker straight to the table below ".Common Sense: CA Supreme Court Refuses to Delay Gay Marriage Rights. "

If Internet use is not feasible, just remind them that only one of the California Supreme Court Justices was nominated by a Democratic Governor.  And the justice nominated by the supposedly moderate and gay friendly Republican actually voted against same sex marriage rights.  

California Supreme Court Justices are not completely like US SCOTUS members. They serve 12 year terms and are confirmed by the voters of the state. If a justice does not complete a term a new justice is nominated by the governor to fill the remainder of the term. 

See excerpts from The California Supreme Court Historical Society below for confirmation. 

  When the convention finally adjourned seven months later, in March 1879, major changes had been made to California’s judicial system, which were formalized when the voters adopted a new Constitution in May of that year. The Supreme Court had been expanded again. It was now to consist of a Chief Justice and six associate justices, and terms of office were increased from 10 to 12 years. The categories of cases that the court was authorized to hear were once again augmented, and all opinions were required to be in writing.

...

In 1934 noncontested judicial elections were adopted for the appellate courts, including the Supreme Court. Under this system, the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Commission on Judicial Appointments, fills vacancies in the appellate courts by appointment. At the next general election, voters decide whether the appointees should be confirmed to fill their predecessors’ unexpired terms and whether justices whose terms have expired should be elected to new full terms. 

I believe all or at least a group of justices run at the same time.  I remember one year when there was quite an electoral putsch of a number of justices because they had opposed capital punishment.

Yes, here is confirmation on that:

The electorate has occasionally exercised the power not to retain justices; because Chief Justice Rose Bird and Associate Justices Cruz Reynoso and Joseph Grodin opposed capital punishment they were removed in 1986.

 Source Wikipedia.

Imagine the governed being able to choose their top judges! 

tags: california supreme court  same sex marriage  gay marriage  

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