Dec 01, 2006Articles: Romney Lawyers: Legislature Illegally Blocking Amendment Banning Gay Marriage
By vanrozenheim
(Boston, USA) A Supreme Judicial Court justice Thursday declined to rule on a motion to force a proposed amendment banning gay marriage on the ballot in 2008 - instead she passed the issue onto the full court. A lawyer for Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney implored Justice Judith Cowin to order the Legislature to hold a vote on a proposed amendment banning same-sex marriage, or failing that to direct the Secretary of State William Galvin to place the question on the 2008 ballot bypassing the State House. On November 10 the legislature, meeting in a special joint session to consider the proposed amendment recessed until January 2, without taking a vote. January 2 is the final day in the current session and it is expected no vote will be held, effectively killing the measure.
