As I’ve bitched loud and long about the confirmation of gay-hating judge Janice Rogers Brown to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for D.C., it hadn’t occured to me that there might be a tiny silver lining in her departure from the California Supreme Court. Chances are she’ll be gone just before California’s same-sex marriage case hits the state’s high court.
The departure of Janice Rogers Brown from the California Supreme Court leaves a hole that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will have to fill before the issue of same-sex marriage arrives on the high court’s doorstep.
Brown was confirmed by the Senate Wednesday to the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.
For a governor seeking reelection finding a replacement for the conservative Brown will be like walking through a minefield. She was a darling of conservatives and the bane of gay rights groups.
…For a self-styled moderate Schwarzenegger will need to find a candidate that will be acceptable to a broad sector of Californians – conservative enough not to anger the GOP’s right wing while left enough to appease moderates and enough Democrats in the Senate to win confirmation.
“As we look ahead, we expect the Governor and our elected officials to do what is right and select a fair-minded nominee that whole heartedly believes in equal and fair treatment for all Californians,” Geoffrey Kors, executive director of Equality California told 365Gay.com.
On the one hand, I’m somewhat relieved that at least Arnold’s a moderate, and thus somewhat less likely to pick the nuttiest of the wingnuts. On the other hand, if anybody can screw this up, Arnold’s the one to do it.
Anyway, Brown will hang around the California Supreme Court until September, right before the gay marriage case reaches the court. I’m sure she’s somewhat disappointed that she won’t get to deliver one final insult to the humanity of California’s gay citizens. But at least there’s a chance the balance of the court will shift in our favor before the court considers the marriage case.
I’m somewhat relieved that at least Arnold’s a moderate, and thus somewhat less likely to pick the nuttiest of the wingnuts.
He’s a moderate on social issues, when he can’t get away with pandering to the Republican base. He’s a flat-out pandering whore on economic issues.