Pro-prop 8 demonstrators were "referencing" Judge Walker's sexuality...

[Smarmie Doofus]

... yesterday in front of the courthouse after the decision came down, according to the PBS News Hour.

I had forgotten about that. This adds an interesting dimension... needless to say. Particularly if they persist in this gambit. How far will the pro-8 groups carry that? Can they get away with gay-bashing the judge? At what point will it backfire... if indeed it does backfire?

Can Californians here fill in the missing details...if there any to be filled in? Did Judge Walker "come out".? If so, what were the circumstances?

Wiki is very circumspect:


>>>>Walker was born in Watseka, Illinois in 1944, and graduated from the University of Michigan in 1966 and Stanford Law School in 1970.<1> After serving as a law clerk for United States District Court for the Central District of California judge Robert J. Kelleher from 1971 to 1972, he practiced in San Francisco at Pillsbury, Madison & Sutro from 1972 until his September 7, 1989, nomination by President George H. W. Bush to a seat on the federal district court vacated by Spencer M. Williams.<1> Walker was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on November 21, 1989, on unanimous consent and received commission on November 27, 1989. Walker is one of two federal judges publicly known to be homosexual.<2>>>>

That doesn't tell us much.

[joeybee12]

1. Yup, he's gay, but appointed by Reagan...tell that to the freepers...n/t

[Smarmie Doofus]

2. Not much else known about his private life, I take it.

So be it.

[GodlessBiker]

7. I thought he was nominated by George I.

[ShadowLiberal]

3. If it hasn't gotten much media coverage by now it won't get any more just because of this

If the media was going to make a big deal out of the judge being gay they would have done it by now, antigay people using gay slurs against the judge won't change that.

[Smarmie Doofus]

4. MSM hasn't picked it up, near as I can tell.

But if the RW pushes it it could conceivably take off among their base.

What I don't know is if this would be a net good thing or bad. Why?

1. It would energize their base - maybe.

2. It should make it hard for moderates ( I'm thinking of one moderate in particular, Anthony Kennedy) to see the "Overturn Walker's Homo Ruling because federal judges can't be trusted to apply the law if they're gay" argument as an insult to the judiciary... as well as a vulgar assault on propriety and common sense.

[sui generis]

5. let see if I fully comprehend this

So, a gay judge is likely to be biased in decisions centered on gayness but a heterosexual judge wouldn't be?

I mean, that's like saying a black judge would be biased on the topic of interracial marriage but a white judge wouldn't be.

Do I have that right? :shrug:

[Iggo]

6. Yes, I believe you have that right. (n/t)