9th Circuit Panel to Review Judge Vaughn Walker’s Prop 8 Ruling Announced

Today the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals disclosed the panel that will hear the appeal of Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision striking down Proposition 8 as unconstitutional. The panel will be: Judge Stephen R. Reinhardt—perhaps the most left-leaning judge on the federal bench; Judge Michael Hawkins—a very liberal judge; and Judge N. Randy Smith—a moderate compared to the other two.

With this panel, opponents of Proposition 8 should be feel pretty secure.

For a review of Judge Walker’s decision and the issues at hand, see William Watkins’ “Nationalizing Marriage”.