Supreme Court DOMA and Prop 8 Watching Thread

Supreme Court DOMA and Prop 8 Watching Thread

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DOMA is Unconsitutional:
The Supreme Court ruled 5-to-4 on Wednesday that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstituional. Roberts dissents. Scalia dissents. DOMA is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment. From the decision: “DOMA singles out a class of persons deemed by a State entitled ot recognition and protection to enhance their own liberty.”
Update on the Prop 8 case: The court does not reach the merits of this case, instead ruling that the Petitioners (the private citizens seeking to enforce Prop 8 after the State of California refuses to appeal the District Court's ruling to the 9th Circuit) lacked standing to bring their appeal. That means that the District Court's ruling that Prop 8 is unconstitutional is upheld, and that means same sex marriage is now once again legal in California.
True Confessions… Zimmerman Trial

True Confessions… Zimmerman Trial

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Been crazy around here, but as I'm running around I'm listening to the George Zimmerman trial.  Fascinating stuff.  If you're interested, it's live streamed here. Also, Charles Pierce has a great post on this.  Check it out.
But they persist. How could Martin have been smothering Zimmerman at the same time Zimmerman was, as he claimed, screaming his head off for help? (This question will not be settled by the testimony of voice experts, thanks to the judge's ruling, though the jury will hear the tape.) This was just before the fatal gunshot. “It’s continuous screaming,” another officer asks, “how can you be smothered?” Damn good question. “You think he might have seen you had a gun before he punched you?” the first officer asks. Another damn good question. “What was the provocation for punching you other than you were following him?” another officer asks. By this time, Zimmerman is losing his patience. “I’ve gone through it a million times.” Despite his passion for justice, repeated questions about the death of a 17-year-old boy at his own hands annoys him.