Today the Supreme Ct overturned the Defense of Marriage Act and dismissed the appeal in defense of California's Prop 8 banning gay marriage. Yesterday it invalidated important parts of the Voting Rights Act from 1968. I believe these were all 5-4 decisions.
It is very hard for me to put a positive spin on gutting the Voting Rights Act; if southern states want to block Black (or for that matter Catholic or Latino or Asian) voters from voting they do not need to fear federal supervision. Yet recognizing equal rights under the 14th Amendment's assurance of equal protection under the law is a huge step for human rights. But again, only as a 5-4 decision. Odd to think so much rests on a single person's vote.
The Court lost my respect with Bush v. Gore and confirmed that with Citizens United, and further confirmed it by gutting the Voting Rights Act yesterday. Maybe their rejection of DOMA and dismissal of the prop 8 appeal are an acceptance of new emerging reality.
It is very hard for me to put a positive spin on gutting the Voting Rights Act; if southern states want to block Black (or for that matter Catholic or Latino or Asian) voters from voting they do not need to fear federal supervision. Yet recognizing equal rights under the 14th Amendment's assurance of equal protection under the law is a huge step for human rights. But again, only as a 5-4 decision. Odd to think so much rests on a single person's vote.
The Court lost my respect with Bush v. Gore and confirmed that with Citizens United, and further confirmed it by gutting the Voting Rights Act yesterday. Maybe their rejection of DOMA and dismissal of the prop 8 appeal are an acceptance of new emerging reality.
Comment