by Susan Brinkmann, OCDS
Staff Journalist
A California federal judge has decided to allow the trial of a same-sex marriage case that could determine if homosexuals will be allowed to marry in the U.S. to be videotaped and shown on YouTube.
According to The Christian Post, Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker decided to allow the taping of the trial he will be presiding over beginning today in order to provide “a giant civics lesson for as many people as possible” among other reasons.
“I always thought that if people could see how the judiciary really works, they would take a somewhat different view of it,” Judge Walker told The Associated Press.
The case, Perry v. Schwarzenegger, is between gay marriage advocates and sponsors of California’s Proposition 8 which resulted in an amendment to the state’s constitution defining marriage as between a man and a woman. The lawsuit is being funded by a group of liberal Hollywood activists led by director Rob Reiner who hired two high profile attorneys to try to overturn the will of the voters by having the amendment struck down as unconstitutional.
People on both sides of the issue are watching the case closely because the outcome could determine if same-sex marriage becomes legal nationwide. Whatever the judge decides in the U.S. District Court of Northern California, the ruling will likely be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which could end up determining whether homosexual Americans have a right to marry.
However, attorneys who are fighting to keep the amendment intact say opening up the proceedings to cameras could impact the outcome of the case. For instance, YouTube taping will only put witnesses more at risk, many of whom have already been harassed by gay activists for supporting Proposition 8.
Knowing that the trial will be seen by millions could also make some witnesses feel more timid about what they say while others will see it as an occasion to overact for the cameras.
The judge has the power to order the faces of individual witnesses concealed and their voices disguised, but has not yet decided to do so. .
The videotape will be posted on YouTube through the newly made account of the United States District Court for the Northern District of California (www.youtube.com/usdccand).
© All Rights Reserved, Living His Life Abundantly®/Women of Grace® http://www.womenofgrace.com
