After claims by The San Francisco Chronicle that Judge Vaughn Walker is gay, several religious groups are demanding that he recuse himself from presiding over the federal trial for Proposition 8. According to their statements, a homosexual justice constitutes an unacceptable bias in a case that will determine the constitutionality of California's ban on gay marriage.
â┚¬Å”The revelation that Judge Walker apparently chooses to engage in homosexual conduct, if true, would explain much of his bizarre behavior throughout this trial,â┚¬Â says Liberty Counsel Director Matt Barber. He referred to Walker's decision to broadcast video from the trial online as an example of the â┚¬Å”circus-like atmosphereâ┚¬Â Walker has created, though that decision was later overturned.
Brian Brown, Director of the National Organization for Marriage, also accuses Walker of â┚¬Å”egregious and damagingâ┚¬Â bias. â┚¬Å”We have no idea whether the report is true or not,â┚¬Â Brown says. â┚¬Å”But we do know Judge Walker has been an amazingly biased and one-sided force throughout this trial, far more akin to an activist than a neutral referee.â┚¬ÂÂ
The Chronicle, meanwhile, has argued that Walker should be allowed to stay on the bench during the trial. The editorials point out that two dozen House Democrats, led by Rep. Nancy Pelosi of San Francisco, opposed his nomination because of his alleged â┚¬Å”insensitivityâ┚¬Â to gays and the poor.
