Ga Supreme Ct to webcast arguments on gay marriage ban

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Gay marriage ban case to hit Web
Georgia Supreme Court to hear oral arguments June 27

By SONJI JACOBS
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Published on: 06/02/06

Georgians who want to watch the oral arguments in the appeal of a judge's ruling that overturned the state's gay marriage amendment will be able to do so via their computer.

The state Supreme court announced Thursday that the courtroom action on June 27 will be broadcast live on the Web. The appeal is scheduled to be heard at 10 a.m., and there will be a link — www.gasupreme.us — to the Web cast on the Supreme Court Web site that morning.

The state is appealing Fulton County Superior Court Judge Constance Russell's ruling that the gay marriage ban approved by 76 percent of voters in November 2004 is unconstitutional because of the way it was written. Russsell wrote that the measure violated the state Constitution's single-subject rule because it asked voters to decide on both marriage and civil unions in a single amendment.

The court on Thursday also announced that a special justice has been named to hear the gay marriage appeal.

Superior Court Judge F. Larry Salmon, of Floyd County, will hear arguments in place of Georgia Supreme Court Justice Harold Melton, a former counsel to Gov. Sonny Perdue. Melton is named in legal papers challenging the same-sex marriage ban from his time in the executive branch and has declined to participate in arguments in the case.

Perdue, who supports the amendment, has said he will call a special session of the Legislature to enact a revised version of the ban to submit to voters if the court fails to reinstate it by Aug. 7. The session would begin on Aug. 9. Perdue said he chose those dates to allow time to print new ballots for the November general election if necessary.

The June 27th webcast won’t be a first for the state’s highest court, according to public information officer Rick Diguette. Two months ago, the court decided to webcast the last day of oral arguments each month for a mentoring program at the State Bar. It just so happens that the gay marriage appeal is scheduled for June 27th - the last day for oral arguments this month.

Diguette said that other than end-of-month webcasts for the State Bar mentoring program, the court only occassionally sets up live transmissions.


http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/metro/stories/0602gaymarriage.html