San Francisco, California -
California Attorney General Bill Lockyer said Sunday that he will seek a court order, possibly as soon as today, to put a halt to gay marriages in San Francisco.
Lockyer said his office must take action to clarify the situation in San Francisco where more than 3,000 same-sex couples have already married.
"We need to get to court as quickly as we can so that the citizens of the state, the government offices and most especially the people" who formalize their relationship know what the rules are Lockyer told KCBS.
But, Lockyer did not say whether his office would seek an junction or ask the courts for a speedy trial on the city's suit against the state. San Francisco city lawyers filed suit against the state Thursday saying the state's ban on same-sex marriage violates the California Constitution. (365gay.com story) Two attempts by conservative groups to get a restraining order to stop the city from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples have already been defeated in court.
Lockyer also took aim at the governor, reminding him that he was not his boss. Friday Schwarzenegger sent a letter to Lockyer ordering him to take immediate legal action. against the city.
Attorneys General in California are independently elected. Lockyer is a Democrat, the governor a Republican. Lockyer Sunday accused Schwarzenegger of trying to use him to make political points with the GOP.
Schwarzenegger told state Republicans meeting in Burlingame on the weekend: "We rely on our courts to enforce the rule of law. But you see, in San Francisco, the courts are dropping the ball. It's time for the city to stop traveling down this dangerous path of ignoring the rule of law. That's my message to San Francisco.''
Sunday, on Meet The Press Schwarzenegger compared the city's actions to handing out licenses for illegal weapons.
"In San Francisco it is license for marriage of same sex. Maybe the next thing is another city that hands out licenses for assault weapons and someone else hands out licenses for selling drugs, I mean you can't do that," Schwarzenegger said.
"We have to stay within the law. There's a state law that says specific things, and if you want to challenge those laws then you can go to the court," he said.
Newsom countered the governor on another Sunday news show.
"It's not about AK-47s," he said on CNN's Late Edition. "It's not about these other hypotheticals. It's about human beings. It's about human dignity. ... It's about, I think, holding truth, faith and allegiance to the Constitution."
Following delivery of the Governor's directive to Lockyer Friday the Attorney General's spokesperson admonished Schwarzenegger for interfering in the AG's office.
"The governor can direct the Highway Patrol. He can direct 'Terminator Four.' But he can't tell the attorney general what to do," said Hallye Jordan. (365gay.com story)
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is unperturbed about Lockyer's entry into the fray.
"I guess four court hearings aren't enough. Mayor Newsom is upholding the constitution of the State of California which explicitly outlaws discrimination in this state," said the mayor's spokesperson Peter Ragone.
by Mark Worrall
365Gay.com Newscenter
San Francisco Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2004
Lockyer said his office must take action to clarify the situation in San Francisco where more than 3,000 same-sex couples have already married.
"We need to get to court as quickly as we can so that the citizens of the state, the government offices and most especially the people" who formalize their relationship know what the rules are Lockyer told KCBS.
But, Lockyer did not say whether his office would seek an junction or ask the courts for a speedy trial on the city's suit against the state. San Francisco city lawyers filed suit against the state Thursday saying the state's ban on same-sex marriage violates the California Constitution. (365gay.com story) Two attempts by conservative groups to get a restraining order to stop the city from issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples have already been defeated in court.
Lockyer also took aim at the governor, reminding him that he was not his boss. Friday Schwarzenegger sent a letter to Lockyer ordering him to take immediate legal action. against the city.
Attorneys General in California are independently elected. Lockyer is a Democrat, the governor a Republican. Lockyer Sunday accused Schwarzenegger of trying to use him to make political points with the GOP.
Schwarzenegger told state Republicans meeting in Burlingame on the weekend: "We rely on our courts to enforce the rule of law. But you see, in San Francisco, the courts are dropping the ball. It's time for the city to stop traveling down this dangerous path of ignoring the rule of law. That's my message to San Francisco.''
Sunday, on Meet The Press Schwarzenegger compared the city's actions to handing out licenses for illegal weapons.
"In San Francisco it is license for marriage of same sex. Maybe the next thing is another city that hands out licenses for assault weapons and someone else hands out licenses for selling drugs, I mean you can't do that," Schwarzenegger said.
"We have to stay within the law. There's a state law that says specific things, and if you want to challenge those laws then you can go to the court," he said.
Newsom countered the governor on another Sunday news show.
"It's not about AK-47s," he said on CNN's Late Edition. "It's not about these other hypotheticals. It's about human beings. It's about human dignity. ... It's about, I think, holding truth, faith and allegiance to the Constitution."
Following delivery of the Governor's directive to Lockyer Friday the Attorney General's spokesperson admonished Schwarzenegger for interfering in the AG's office.
"The governor can direct the Highway Patrol. He can direct 'Terminator Four.' But he can't tell the attorney general what to do," said Hallye Jordan. (365gay.com story)
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom is unperturbed about Lockyer's entry into the fray.
"I guess four court hearings aren't enough. Mayor Newsom is upholding the constitution of the State of California which explicitly outlaws discrimination in this state," said the mayor's spokesperson Peter Ragone.
by Mark Worrall
365Gay.com Newscenter
San Francisco Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2004
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
