GOP Senators Weigh In on DOMA Fight Before the 9th Circuit

[Dan82]

http://www.law.com/jsp/ca/PubArticle...897&slreturn=1

Throwing a party for Orrin Hatch and other GOP U.S. senators? Better not invite U.S. District Judge Jeffrey White of San Francisco.

Hatch and nine other senators who voted for the Defense of Marriage Act in 1996 filed an amicus curiae brief Monday in a constitutional challenge to the law before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. In it they have a bone to pick with White — and not just because they disagree with his ruling.

In striking down DOMA in February, White had observed that "the legislative history is replete with expressed animus toward gay men and lesbians." Specifically, White noted that some congressmen during floor debate had called homosexuality "immoral," "depraved," "unnatural," "based on perversion" and "an attack on god's principles." Quoting Justice Anthony Kennedy, White said prejudice may be caused by "simple want of careful, rational reflection," among other things.

With the Justice Department declining to defend the law, the GOP-controlled House has stepped in to appeal, filing a nuts-and-bolts-type brief earlier this month. But on Monday the 10 GOP senators filed an amicus with a bit more ad hominem flavor...



http://www.law.com/jsp/ca/PubArticle...897&slreturn=1

[Revan]

Hehe Orrin Hatch is a silly man