Judge Nullifies Louisiana Marriage Vote

After 78% of Louisiana voters chose to amend their state constitution to protect marriage, a state judge last week nullified their decision.

"When will people see that the rule of law in America is being threatened by an oligarchy of judges?" said Gene Mills, executive director of the Louisiana Family Forum — an organization that spearheaded the campaign to amend the constitution.

On October 5, Baton Rouge District Judge William Morvant, in a lawsuit filed by homosexual militants, ruled the election null and void. Morvant declared that the constitutional amendment defending marriage was improperly worded.

The amendment reserved marriage to one man and one woman and forbade the state from recognizing, as the legal equivalent of marriage, "civil unions" between pairs of homosexuals. That language, ruled Morvant, constituted putting two "objects" in one amendment, and thus was unconstitutional.

What Next?

"He's a lower-court judge. His opinions are not irreversible," Mills said. "I think we're going to be successful getting his decision overturned."

The amendment's supporters have appealed to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals, one step below the state Supreme Court. The appeal may be heard as early as this week.

"No doubt we're in the midst of a culture war," Mills said. "Look, marriage and civil unions are not a 'multiple object,' like marriage and the price of gasoline. The defense of marriage is one object.

"I'd have to say, though, that this has awakened a lot of the citizenry. We've learned we have to take steps to make our judges accountable." A new campaign to that effect will begin soon, he added.

The Cost

It costs the state of Louisiana $3 million a day to hold a general election, according to Scott Madere of the Secretary of State's office. The marriage vote was held on the same day as statewide municipal elections, so the state incurred no additional cost.

"If we have to hold another vote on the amendment," he said, "we'll do it next year. We'll just put it on an established election day."

But the vote cost the Family Forum at least $250,000 for personnel and activities, Mills said.

"That doesn't count the numerous expenses at the grassroots level, nor the many hours of legal advice donated to us by the Alliance Defense Fund," he said. "This effort cost the people plenty."

Commentary

Once again, left-wing extremists found a judge who was willing to frustrate the exercise of sovereignty by the people of a state. They've done it before, and they'll do it again.

They will stop at nothing to revolutionize American society, creating a Godless, anti-Christian, anti-family dystopia. And the judiciary is helping them do it. As the judge said in the Seattle "gay marriage" case, "The morality of the majority can never be the basis for legislation." Clearly the judges prefer the immorality of a minority as a foundation for law.

Christians must oppose this — by taking responsibility for the education of their children, by keeping their churches faithful to God's Word, and by voting heavily for leaders who promote the cause of Christ. They would do well to remember Mordecai's advice to Esther:

"Think not with thyself that thou shalt escape … For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall … deliverance arise … from another place …" (Esther 4:13–14).

God has given us the task of regenerating this nation for Christ, our King.

If He has to do it without us, He will. But we will not escape.