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Category Archives: Legal
Bell Corruption Case Ends in Mistrial, Rumors of Misconduct
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Amid a flurry of cryptic and accusatory notes from the jury, Judge Kathleen Kennedy declared a mistrial Thursday on the remaining undecided charges in the Bell corruption trial. "It seems to me all hell has broken loose," Kennedy said on Thursday … Continue reading
Prop. 8: How We Got Here (Video)
You might say the long journey of Proposition 8 began May 15, 2008, when a ruling came down from the California Supreme Court declaring that gay and lesbian couples had a legal right to get married.
Mayor Gavin Newsom celebrated at City Hall with a crowd of thrilled San Franciscans, “This door’s wide open now. It’s gonna happen whether you like it or not. This is the future, and it’s now.”
It was a historic ruling, but not a done deal.
The ruling infuriated supporters of traditional marriage, including Randy Thomasson, with Protect Marriage.
“It will spur Californians to go to the polls to override the judges and protect marriage licenses for one man and one woman in the California constitution,” Thomasson said.
Prop. 8 at the Supreme Court: What You Need to Know
In California's June 2000 primary, 61 percent of the electorate voted "yes" on Proposition 22, a measure that amended state law to read, "Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized " in the state. The state Supreme Court overturned the law in 2008 as discriminatory, opening the way for same-sex couples to get legally married in the state. About 18,000 gay and lesbian couples took advantage of the chance to tie the knot.
But the door that had been opened to same-sex couples slammed shut in November 2008, when voters passed Proposition 8. The measure, a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, passed with 52 percent of the vote.
Gay-marriage advocates immediately filed challenges with the California Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case, and in May 2009, the court upheld Prop. 8, another blow against same-sex marriage.
Timeline: The Long Battle Over Same-Sex Marriage in California
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When the Supreme Court arguments on the constitutionality of Proposition 8, it will mark one more step in a long legal battle to determine the ultimate disposition of the same-sex marriage ban.
And while the legal battle over Proposition 8 has been long and winding enough, the battle over same-sex marriage in California actually goes back even further, as you'll see in this timeline.
Mixed Verdict In Bell Corruption Trial
The verdict is in for six former officials of the Los Angeles suburb of Bell standing trial for ripping off public funds. After 18 days, the jury in the case returned a mix of guilty and not guilty verdicts against … Continue reading
Can Christianity Accept Homosexuality? Hear a Panel Discussion
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Randall Miller believes his church should accept him as a gay man. "As an openly gay man it causes a significant amount of personal pain for me when the church that I love says homosexuality is incompatable with Christian teaching," … Continue reading
Deliberations in Bell Corruption Trial Hit a Snag
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By Rachael Marcus Jury deliberations over the fate of six former Bell City Council members accused of corruption began anew today after the dismissal of a juror. The case went to the jury last Friday, but yesterday, the court dismissed a juror … Continue reading
California Poll Finds Widespread Support For Same-Sex Marriage
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Four years after narrowly banning same-sex marriage in California through Proposition 8, state voters now approve of gay nuptials by 61 to 32 percent, a new Field Poll finds. That's a couple of points more in favor of same-sex marriage than in last year's poll, which found a 59 to 34 percent margin of support. In 2010, the numbers in favor were 52 to 48 percent.
The survey, released today, finds more support than opposition to gay marriage in every demographic subgroup except registered Republicans and self-identified conservatives.
The poll comes on the last day for friend of the court or "amicus" briefs to be filed in the U.S. Supreme Court case challenging Prop. 8.
Mortgage Fraud in California a Game of Whac-A-Mole for Law Enforcement
In one widely publicized case, the owner spread possum urine around the house, turned up the heat and closed all the windows for a few days. Why?
Does 22 1/2 Hours Alone in an 8 x 10 Cell Every Day Amount to Torture? Video From Inside Pelican Bay Prison
“I haven’t seen the moon since 1998.” That's inmate Jeremy Beasley, talking to me while sitting–shackled–in an interview room at Pelican Bay State Prison, California’s highest security lockup. Beasley, a convicted murderer, was clearly surprised by my presence—he told me … Continue reading
