Free Republic

After Brendan Eich resigned as CEO of the Mozilla Corporation amid controversy when it was revealed that he had given $1,000 to support a California ban on same-sex marriage, he set out to do again what he had done with Mozilla's Firefox browser: revolutionize the way people access the Internet.His newest venture is as bold as what he did when he co-founded the Mozilla project, the Mozilla Foundation, and the Mozilla Corporation. He has started a new company that is producing a browser that promises to strike a balance between web-based advertising and privacy. Coming from anyone else, this promise...

A Sacramento federal judge has struck down as unconstitutional the part of California's so-called Victims' Bill of Rights that governs parole revocation. The law, enacted by voter approval of a 2008 ballot initiative known as Proposition 9, was a sweeping amendment to the state constitution, conferring a long list of entitlements on crime victims. The sections dealing with parole revocation were made part of the state's Penal Code. U.S. District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton ruled Tuesday that those sections fall short of providing the minimum due process guaranteed by the Constitution and two U.S. Supreme Court decisions, Morrissey v. Brewer...

An appellate court on Monday struck down a Sacramento federal judge's injunction prohibiting enforcement of parts of a state law governing California's parole system. U.S. District Judge Lawrence K. Karlton ruled in February that life-term prisoners were likely to succeed on the merits of their claim that those sections of the so-called Victims' Bill of Rights Act that reduce availability and frequency of parole hearings violate the ex post facto clause of the U.S. Constitution. The clause bars laws that retroactively increase punishment after the commission of a crime. But a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of...

Marriage is not a “contract” between a male and female. That is, it may be partly that—the couple usually pledge allegiance of some kind, such as forswearing all others; again, traditionally—but marriage is not predominately an inter-personal contract. Instead, marriage is a “contract”, or rather agreement, between the couple and the culture in which the couple lives. It is the culture which confers the special status of “husband and wife.” Marriage, culture says, is different, legally, religiously, and morally, from, say, two (or more) people merely cohabitating. Another way of stating this is to say that it is everybody but...

A key part of a victims-rights measure that voters approved in November has been overturned by a federal judge, who ruled the state must provide attorneys for parole violators when it is considering whether to send them back to prison. Senior Judge Lawrence K. Karlton of the U.S. District Court in Sacramento ruled against Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and the state in issuing an injunction against that part of Proposition 9.

Sacramento, CA (AP) -- A federal judge is blocking a portion of a crime victims' rights measure approved by California voters in November. U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton in Sacramento says a federal injunction that had been agreed to by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration trumps the section of Proposition 9 that limits legal rights for parole violators.

  February 15, 2009 Dear Friend, Despite our victory in passing Proposition 8, traditional marriage is under assault in California. Even after winning a historic victory and passing by a 600,000 voter margin, Prop 8 has been abandoned by many of our elected officials, including those who are sworn to uphold it. Rest assured, however, that our committee will continue to defend Prop 8 and traditional marriage with all of our energies. Here is an update on recent activities:The California Supreme Court has scheduled a hearing for March 5 to determine if Prop 8 was a validly enacted amendment...

Late this afternoon, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints released a statement in response to recent calls for protests and boycotts from opponents of California's Proposition 8. Opponents of the proposition are angry about the Church's involvement in its passage. Today, the Church responded with a statement that reads, in part: "It is disturbing that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is being singled out for speaking up as part of its democratic right in a free election. "While those who disagree with our position on Proposition 8 have the right to make their feelings known,...

10/13/2008 NO ON PROP. 8, EQUALITY FOR ALL No on Prop. 8, Equality for All SUPPORT MONETARY $1,000,000.00 01/04/2008 COMMITTEE FOR TERM LIMITS AND LEGISLATIVE REFORM Committee for Term Limits and Legislative Reform - Yes on Prop 93 SUPPORT MONETARY $500,000.00 01/07/2008 CALIFORNIANS FOR FAIR EDUCATION/NO ON 92 Californians For Fair Education - No on Prop 92 SUPPORT MONETARY $500,000.00 01/14/2008 CALIFORNIANS FOR FAIR EDUCATION/NO ON 92 Californians For Fair Education - No on Prop 92 SUPPORT MONETARY $500,000.00 12/17/2007 COMMITTEE FOR TERM LIMITS AND LEGISLATIVE REFORM Yes on Prop 93 - Committee for Term Limits and Legislative Reform...

One of the most hotly contested ballot measures this election is Proposition 9, pitting victims' rights versus the rights of prison inmates. Recently, Prop. 9's backers took their campaign into unusual territory: right inside the walls of San Quentin prison. Proponents of the ballot measure came together with victims of violent crime and men serving time for their deeds. The event was a daylong symposium held inside the prison's Catholic chapel. "We all as inmates recognize that the victims need rights," said one inmate, while another prisoner said Proposition 9 would "change the rules of the game significantly." Specifically, Proposition...

Propositions that are on the November 4, 2008 General Election Ballot* Bond MeasureProposition 1 SB 1856 (Chapter 697, 2002). Costa. Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century.** **Note: The Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century was originally scheduled to appear on the November 2, 2004, General Election ballot. Subsequently, Senate Bill 1169, Chapter 71, Statutes of 2004, provided that it appear on the November 7, 2006, General Election ballot. However, most recently, Assembly Bill 713, Chapter 44, Statutes of 2006, provides for the submission of this Act on the November...