A federal judge in California has denied a request from supporters of Proposition 8 to void a  decision that  struck down the controversial ballot initiative.  

Known as ¡°Prop 8¡± the ballot initiative defines marriage as being between a man and a woman and was approved by voters in 2008. But two years later U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker struck down the marriage ban calling it unconstitutional.

After ruling on the case Walker retired and  revealed publicly that he was involved in a long term same sex relationship, but he never said whether he intended at any point to marry his partner.

Supporters of Prop 8 filed a motion arguing that Walker should have disqualified himself from the case because he had an interest in its outcome.

Today, James Ware,  U.S. District Chief Judge for the Northern District of California upheld Walker¡¯s ruling and said ¡°The sole fact that a federal judge shares the same circumstances or personal characteristics with other members of the general public, and that the judge could be affected by the outcome of a proceeding in the same way that other members of the general public would be affected, is not a basis for either recusal or disqualification¡±.

In a 21 page ruling Ware said, ¡°The single characteristic that Judge Walker shares with the Plaintiffs, albeit one that might not have been shared with the majority of Californians, gave him no greater interest in a proper decision on the merits than would exist for any other judge or citizen.¡±

A federal judge in California has denied a request from supporters of Proposition 8 to void a  decision that  struck down the controversial ballot initiative.  

Known as ¡°Prop 8¡± the ballot initiative defines marriage as being between a man and a woman and was approved by voters in 2008. But two years later U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker struck down the marriage ban calling it unconstitutional.

After ruling on the case Walker retired and  revealed publicly that he was involved in a long term same sex relationship, but he never said whether he intended at any point to marry his partner.

Supporters of Prop 8 filed a motion arguing that Walker should have disqualified himself from the case because he had an interest in its outcome.

Today, James Ware,  U.S. District Chief Judge for the Northern District of California upheld Walker¡¯s ruling and said ¡°The sole fact that a federal judge shares the same circumstances or personal characteristics with other members of the general public, and that the judge could be affected by the outcome of a proceeding in the same way that other members of the general public would be affected, is not a basis for either recusal or disqualification¡±.

In a 21 page ruling Ware said, ¡°The single characteristic that Judge Walker shares with the Plaintiffs, albeit one that might not have been shared with the majority of Californians, gave him no greater interest in a proper decision on the merits than would exist for any other judge or citizen.¡±

LONDON ¡ª Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi faced fresh political uncertainty Tuesday after suffering a crushing loss at the polls that will make it more difficult for the longtime leader to keep his fragile government intact.

In two days of balloting Sunday and Monday, voters overwhelmingly rejected key elements of Berlusconi's agenda in four referendums, including a plan to revive nuclear power and a measure to help Berlusconi and other legally embattled officials delay court proceedings against them.

It was the first time in 16 years that Italians overturned government policies by national referendum, which requires a voter turnout of more than 50 per cent to come into force. Not only was that threshold easily crossed, but more than 90 per cent of those who cast ballots did so against the government.

The result was further evidence that Italians have soured on their flamboyant leader, whose failure to jump-start a stalled economy and whose legal troubles, including charges that he paid for sex with a minor, have badly tarnished his reputation. Two weeks ago, Berlusconi and his center-right coalition suffered a humiliating defeat in local elections _ even in his own hometown, Milan, where he had explicitly portrayed the vote for mayor as a judgment on himself.

"A slap hurts but sometimes brings you to your senses," Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said Tuesday, according to La Stampa newspaper.

Maroni belongs to the Northern League, partner to Berlusconi's People of Freedom party in the ruling coalition, without whose support the premier would have no majority in parliament.

But as public disenchantment with Berlusconi continues to grow, the Northern League may start distancing itself from him, undermining his ability to get things done and perhaps even forcing him to call early elections.

The regional party, which supports greater autonomy for the more affluent north, is already angry that Berlusconi has not delivered the tax cuts it wants. A confidence vote in parliament next week should give a sign of the league's intentions.

In the referendums, Italians threw out a return to nuclear power, a plan to privatize water utilities and a law allowing government ministers to avoid having to appear in court. Rejection of the last measure was the strongest statement directly against Berlusconi, a media tycoon who has routinely introduced legislation designed to shield him and his companies from prosecution over alleged business irregularities.

Jubilant anti-Berlusconi activists celebrated in Rome on Monday night when the poll results began to show a resounding defeat for him.

Yet no one is predicting Berlusconi's immediate downfall. His formidable political survival skills have been considerably abetted by the disarray of the opposition against him, which analysts say has kept him in power almost by default.

"Italians are fed up with the government. The high level of participation in the referendum demonstrates that Italians want change," said Sergio Fabbrini, a political scientist at the LUISS Guido Carli university in Rome. "The bad news is that the opposition is still divided. There is no clear political leader."

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Prosecutor+speaks+Berlusconi+trial/4942780/story.html#ixzz1PJEnO6dV

LONDON ¡ª Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi faced fresh political uncertainty Tuesday after suffering a crushing loss at the polls that will make it more difficult for the longtime leader to keep his fragile government intact.

In two days of balloting Sunday and Monday, voters overwhelmingly rejected key elements of Berlusconi's agenda in four referendums, including a plan to revive nuclear power and a measure to help Berlusconi and other legally embattled officials delay court proceedings against them.

It was the first time in 16 years that Italians overturned government policies by national referendum, which requires a voter turnout of more than 50 per cent to come into force. Not only was that threshold easily crossed, but more than 90 per cent of those who cast ballots did so against the government.

The result was further evidence that Italians have soured on their flamboyant leader, whose failure to jump-start a stalled economy and whose legal troubles, including charges that he paid for sex with a minor, have badly tarnished his reputation. Two weeks ago, Berlusconi and his center-right coalition suffered a humiliating defeat in local elections _ even in his own hometown, Milan, where he had explicitly portrayed the vote for mayor as a judgment on himself.

"A slap hurts but sometimes brings you to your senses," Interior Minister Roberto Maroni said Tuesday, according to La Stampa newspaper.

Maroni belongs to the Northern League, partner to Berlusconi's People of Freedom party in the ruling coalition, without whose support the premier would have no majority in parliament.

But as public disenchantment with Berlusconi continues to grow, the Northern League may start distancing itself from him, undermining his ability to get things done and perhaps even forcing him to call early elections.

The regional party, which supports greater autonomy for the more affluent north, is already angry that Berlusconi has not delivered the tax cuts it wants. A confidence vote in parliament next week should give a sign of the league's intentions.

In the referendums, Italians threw out a return to nuclear power, a plan to privatize water utilities and a law allowing government ministers to avoid having to appear in court. Rejection of the last measure was the strongest statement directly against Berlusconi, a media tycoon who has routinely introduced legislation designed to shield him and his companies from prosecution over alleged business irregularities.

Jubilant anti-Berlusconi activists celebrated in Rome on Monday night when the poll results began to show a resounding defeat for him.

Yet no one is predicting Berlusconi's immediate downfall. His formidable political survival skills have been considerably abetted by the disarray of the opposition against him, which analysts say has kept him in power almost by default.

"Italians are fed up with the government. The high level of participation in the referendum demonstrates that Italians want change," said Sergio Fabbrini, a political scientist at the LUISS Guido Carli university in Rome. "The bad news is that the opposition is still divided. There is no clear political leader."

Read more: http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/Prosecutor+speaks+Berlusconi+trial/4942780/story.html#ixzz1PJEnO6dV

Since so many rules can vary, clarifying all the rules before the game begins can avoid problems later.