How convincing was Judge Vaughn Walker's decision to strike down Prop 8? Strong enough to lead the American Bar Association to back marriage equality.
SAN FRANCISCO -- The country's largest lawyers' group has backed a resolution calling on all state legislatures to let same-sex couples get married....
New York State Bar Association President Stephen P. Younger [which sponsored the resolution] says the resolution passed overwhelmingly, with only one speaker voicing opposition during debate.
The ABA Journal has more:
A lineup of ABA leaders, both past and present, spoke in favor of the resolution. Incoming ABA President Stephen Zack asked “Why would anyone in this country not want two people who love each other to enjoy the blessings of marriage and the protections of law?”
Former ABA President Tommy Wells told the House that “our citizens of the same sex who are being denied the right to a civil marriage are only seeking to participate in an equal basis in a foundational institution of our civil life. They simply want to share in the legal blessings that we give to married couples. It can only strengthen marriage.”
Only Leslie W. Jacobs, past president of the Ohio State Bar Association and a partner in the Cleveland office of Thompson Hine, spoke against the measure. He sought to table the motion, which was ruled out of order. “I have reluctantly concluded that silence on an issue of political correctness is cowardice,” he told the House.
“What we do [in the House] seriously affects our perception in lawmaking forums. If we are perceived to be off-base on something that lawmakers readily understand, I don’t think they can be expected to defer to us on something on which they don’t understand,” he said.
Obviously, Jacobs' colleagues weren't convinced that equality is either political correctness or difficult for law-makers to understand.