A slow week, outside of the gay rights rallies —
ITEM: The couple who were blocked from attending a 2005 speech by President Bush on Social Security — announced as “open to the public” — for no other reason than because their car had an anti-war bumper sticker, have lost their lawsuit claiming infringement of the First Amendment rights. The couple, represented by the ACLU, are reported likely to appeal. Previous post here.
ITEM: Chief Judge Judith Kaye, leader of New York’s highest court, will retire at the end of this year, as is required by the state constitution when a judge reaches 70. Chief Judge Kaye was the author of the widely praised (and widely cited) dissent in Hernandez v. Robles, in which the court declined to find a right to full and equal access to civil marriage for gays and lesbians. Gay-friendly New York governor David Paterson will appoint her replacement. One of several posts on the New York decision here.