California Union ‘Between a Man and a Woman’ is Unconstitutional

The California Supreme Court today overturned the earlier ban on the recognition of gay union as “marriage.”

The bench was made up of Chief Justice Ronald M. George, Associate Justice Carlos R. Moreno, Associate Justice Joyce L. Kennard, Associate Justice Kathryn Mickle Werdegar, Associate Justice Ming W. Chin, Associate Justice Marvin R. Baxter, and Associate Justice Carol A. Corrigan.

In California, the union of a man and a woman can be called “marriage,” with a same-sex union called “domestic partnership.” According to the court, “The question we must address is whether, under these circumstances, the failure to designate the official relationship of same-sex couples as marriage violates the California Constitution.”

All rise for the California Supreme Court, in the 2008 Marriage Rules case
All rise for the California Supreme Court, in the 2008 Marriage Rules case

Chief Justice George wrote the majority opinion, with Justices Kennard, Werdegar and Moreno concurring. Justice Kennard wrote a separate concurring opinion, to explain “how the decision is consistent with Lockyer v. City and County of San Francisco (2004) 33 Cal.4th 1055 (Lockyer), to note Lockyer’s effect on marriages of same-sex couples previously performed in California.” Justices Baxter and Corrigan wrote separate dissenting opinions, with Justice Chin concurring with Justice Baxter.

The Majority Opinion states:

Accordingly, in light of the conclusions we reach concerning the constitutional questions brought to us for resolution, we determine that the language of section 300 limiting the designation of marriage to a union “between a man and a woman” is unconstitutional and must be stricken from the statute, and that the remaining statutory language must be understood as making the designation of marriage available both to opposite-sex and same-sex couples. In addition, because the limitation of marriage to opposite-sex couples imposed by section 308.5 can have no constitutionally permissible effect in light of the constitutional conclusions set forth in this opinion, that provision cannot stand.” [ PDF ]

The court said a “writ of mandate” will direct California state officials to effect the ruling, so local authorities can comply with it. If not further extended by the court, the decision takes effect in 30 days.

In what appears to be a strange comment in the majority opinon, the Chief Justice says:

“In the present case, it is readily apparent that extending the designation of marriage to same-sex couples clearly is more consistent with the probable legislative intent than withholding that designation from both opposite-sex couples and same-sex couples in favor of some other, uniform designation.”

It appears the justices made an opinion based on an unclear part of law because they are not really sure what the legislature really meant. ( “probable legislative intent” }

Alan Gray is the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of NewsBlaze Daily News and other online newspapers. He prefers to edit, rather than write, but sometimes an issue rears it’s head and makes him start hammering away on the keyboard.

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Alan has been on the internet since it first started. He loves to use his expertise in content and digital marketing to help businesses grow, through managed content services. After living in the United States for 15 years, he is now in South Australia. To learn more about how Alan can help you with content marketing and managed content services, contact him by email.

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Alan is also a techie. His father was a British soldier in the 4th Indian Division in WWII, with Sikhs and Gurkhas. He was a sergeant in signals and after that, he was a printer who typeset magazines and books on his linotype machine. Those skills were passed on to Alan and his brothers, who all worked for Telecom Australia, on more advanced signals (communications). After studying electronics, communications, and computing at college, and building and repairing all kinds of electronics, Alan switched to programming and team building and management.

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