Archive for February, 2010

Judge in Prop 8 Trial Reportedly Gay

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

While Judge Vaughn R. Walker has not admitted his sexuality either way, a number of attorneys involved with the historical Prop 8 trial claim they knew he was homosexual before the trial had ever started. Gay and lesbian blogs were buzzing about the news late last year and now the San Francisco Chronicle has even made mention of the speculation.

So far, proponents of Prop 8 say he is on their side and has been undeniably supportive of banning gay marriage, so his orientation has no bearing on the case. It seems likely that if the proposition is struck down they might claim he has a conflict of interest though. Many San Francisco family attorneys are quick to question whether his orientation really provides for a conflict of interest either way.

While this is a breaking new aspect of the historical case, it seems that Walker’s opinion may not stand for very long whichever way he decides, as both sides have made it clear they will approach the Supreme Court if they lose.

To read more about the news, see the article in the Baptist Press News.

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U.S. Pushing Japan To Protect Families

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Japan has a policy of ignoring U.S. court orders when it comes to family matters, which has left a number of parents childless after a Japanese parent takes the child from the American parent. In some cases, the country will even arrest parents who attempt to take back their children on their own.

While the U.S. has been clashing with Japan on this issue for years, America has decided to turn up the heat recently, with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell warning, “The situation has to be resolved in order to ensure that the U.S.-Japan relations continue on such a positive course.”

Japan is the only country of seven major industrial nations that has so far refused to sign the Hague Convention treaty that would ban child abductions involving other countries. While many have tried to defend the nation by explaining that its culture does not litigate divorce in the same manner that the U.S. does, many, including San Francisco family lawyers, say this is not an acceptable reason to ignore the problem.

To read more on the issue, see the article in the Washington Post. Image via futureatlas.com [Flickr].

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Posted in Family Law News | No Comments »