The most apt word I can find to describe California jurisprudence is that it bends way over backwards to do what is politically prudent.
To be seen as doing anything that might have the remotest chance of disappointing California’s gay community in any way is to commit political suicide, incur the wrath of the LAT and cause you to be branded a “closet homophone” forever.
The fact that they had to get the out-of-state lawyers they did, as opposed to local counsel, should tell you a lot.
Yes, the More Center is excellent, but you always want a lawyer who went fishing, wenching or card playing with the judge back 20 years ago.
That's just an idiotic thing to say. As I suspected you are completely ignorant in all of this. San Diego is an extremely conservative county. Moreover the California Courts are not as liberal as the Federal circuit. The California Supreme Court has a majority of judges appointed by Republican Governors.