The buzz has been building for weeks? Okay. But they've actually officially announced that the decision is released tomorrow. So it's not like this is a "just in case" plan. It's out tomorrow, period.
It's not to influence the court. The events occur after the decision, and that decision has already been made. It's to influence public opinion, create political pressure, organize - to do what any good demonstration does. This decision will not be allowed to have final say on whether gay people deserve equal treatment under the law. But I would also counter any notion that a supreme court applies a calculator to the law and comes up with the right answer without taking external factors into account. In fact, SCOTUS has often weighed how many states have made something legal or illegal to determine public opinion on an issue. Judges and their decisions don't occur in vacuums.
I think the irritation springs from the fact that they should not be making decisions based on popular sentiment, especially if it runs counter to the law or the constitution. Supreme courts are one of the larger insurance policies against a potential tyranny by majority. The fact that they do on occasion check to see "if the cool kids are doing it yet" is not really a great comfort.
Popular sentiment may be democracy but the legislative branch serves a function in our system, too, and part of that is protecting minorities whose rights may not be understood or recognized by the majority.
Let's hope they knock that stupid Prop. down tomorrow.
This gay California boy just moved to Portland two weeks ago, and I have to say I'm quite pleased to see there'll be a rally here this evening about an issue that went down in a whole other state. So thanks - makes me feel I made the right decision to relocate here.
jake: touchy, are we?
Rally in front of Congress instead, or the Cal legislature and the Governator.
Let's hope they knock that stupid Prop. down tomorrow.
jake: touchy, are we?