Judge sets trap for California's Proposition 8 Backers

Folks, this excerpt according to Associated Press via Yahoo News:

SAN FRANCISCO – The federal judge who overturned California's same-sex marriage ban has more bad news for the measure's backers: He doubts they have the right to challenge his ruling that gay couples can begin marrying next week.

Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn R. Walker on Thursday rejected a request to delay his decision barring Proposition 8 from taking effect until high courts can take up an appeal lodged by its supporters. One of the reasons, the judge said, is he's not sure the proponents have the authority to appeal since they would not be affected by or responsible for implementing his ruling.

By contrast, same-sex couples are being denied their constitutional rights every day they are prohibited from marrying, Walker said.

The ban's backers "point to harm resulting from a 'cloud of uncertainty' surrounding the validity of marriages performed after judgment is entered but before proponents' appeal is resolved," he said. "Proponents have not, however, argued that any of them seek to wed a same-sex spouse."

Read it all here.

Commentary. So let me get this straight: backers of Proposition 8 had standing to defend the initiative but lack the standing to appeal the judge's decision to a higher court. Sounds like a bad joke to me.

Behold the face of tyranny in this land: Judge Walker overturned Proposition 8 on the grounds that no rational person could believe that marriage is a union of husband and wife. Other California elected officials agree and did nothing to stop backers from defending Proposition 8 in court. Now Judge Walker thinks that those who defended the right of Californians to define marriage have no standing to appeal?

If he prevails and the 9th Circuit refuses to hear the appeal, truly elections in this country would mean nothing. Despotism would then have arrived in the USA.