Our Radical Left-Wing Pro-Gay Judges - Who Is Appointing These People?

To date, four states' highest courts have ruled in favor of same-sex marriage, and -- of course -- the courts are excoriated by right-wing critics, mainly Republicans, with outcries of "judicial activism" and "radical judges."  Who are these judges writing these "pro-gay" marriage decisions, and who are the left-wing radicals who are appointing them?

Evan Wolfson did an analysis and shared it with me.  It is worth careful study:

Massachusetts (Goodridge, 2003)
Margaret Marshall, Chief Justice
Gov. Weld (R) in 1996, elevated to Chief by Gov. Cellucci (R) in 1999

California (In re Marriage Cases, 2008)
Ronald George, Chief Justice
Gov. Wilson (R) in 1991, elevated to Chief by Gov. Wilson (R) in 1996

Connecticut (Kerrigan, 2008)
Richard Palmer, Associate Justice
Gov. Weicker (Ind.) in 1993 -- Note that Weicker was a Republican during his time in the House and Senate. He won the governorship as an independent.

Iowa (Varnum, 2009)
Mark Cady, Associate Justice
Gov. Branstad (R) in 1998

So, the state supreme court justices who authored the four decisions finding that same-sex couples are entitled to marry on the same basis as different-sex couples were appointed by three Republicans and a formerly-Republican independent.

Comments

[Liz Cooper]

Fabulous summary of a fabulous decision!

[Mad Professah]

This is important to publicize because you know the opponents are going to be screaming bloody murder about activist judges any moment now....

[caprice]

This is nothing new. Earl Warren was appointed Chief Justice of the US Supreme Court by Eisenhower.