Politics & Government

Antonovich Says U.S. Supreme Court Should Review Prop. 8 Ruling

Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich announced Tuesday that Californians who voted to oppose same-sex marriage in California are now disenfranchised with the court's ruling that Prop. 8 is unconstitutional.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich wants the U.S. Supreme Court to hear appeals on Proposition 8 after Tuesday's landmark decision by the U.S. 9th Circuit Court. 

.

Antonovich represents the 5th District, which includes La Crescenta, Glendale, La Canada Flintridge, Altadena, Arcadia, Monrovia, San Marino, South Pasadena and Glendora. 

Find out what's happening in Montrose-La Crescentawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

He released a statement Tuesday that the U.S. Court of Appeals upholding U.S. District Chief Judge Vaughn R. Walker’s ruling that Prop. 8 is unconstitutional and should be reviewed by the U.S. Supreme Court. 

“Once again, activist judges with a political correctness agenda have disenfranchised the people who voted overwhelmingly to oppose same-sex marriage in California -- over 4.5 million Californians in 2000, and over 7 million in 2008," Antonovich said. "This ruling needs to be appealed to the United States Supreme Court.” 

Find out what's happening in Montrose-La Crescentawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Judge Stephen Reinhardt, appointed by President Carter, and Judge Michael Hawkins, a Clinton appointee, voted in the affirmative, Antonovich said. The dissent was submitted by Judge N.R. Smith who was appointed by President George W. Bush.

It's likely that the 2-1 decision could be appealed to either the full 9th Circuit Court or to the U.S. Supreme Court.  

According to the court panel's ruling, the proposition's primary impact was to "lessen the status and human dignity of gays and lesbians in California."

"It stripped same-sex couples of the ability they previously possessed to obtain and use the designation of "marriage' to describe their relationships," according to the court's decision. "Nothing more, nothing less. Proposition 8 therefore could not have been enacted to advance California's interests in child-rearing or responsible procreation, for it had no effect on the rights of same-sex couples to raise children or on the procreative practices of other couples.

"Nor did Proposition 8 have any effect on religious freedom or on parents' rights to control their children's education; it could not have been enacted to safeguard those liberties."

State Attorney General Kamala Harris applauded the decision, saying, "Today's ruling is a victory for fairness, a victory for equality and a victory for justice."

Gov. Jerry Brown issued a statement saying the court "has rendered a powerful affirmation of the right of same-sex couples to marry. I applaud the wisdom and courage of this decision."


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from Montrose-La Crescenta