Chief Justice Roberts’ Lesbian Cousin: He’ll Rule in Favor of Same-Sex Marriage

(CNSNews.com) – Supreme Court Chief Justice John G. Roberts’ cousin, a lesbian seeking to get married in California who will have reserved seating for relatives at two upcoming cases, wrote that she believes her cousin will rule in favor of same-sex marriage in an op-ed posted on the National Council for Lesbian Rights.

A spokesperson for the court did not respond to questions about a potential conflict for Roberts.

“I know that my cousin is a good man,” Jean Podrasky, 48, of San Francisco wrote. “I feel confident that John is wise enough to see that society is becoming more accepting of the humanity of same-sex couples and the simple truth that we deserve to be treated with dignity, respect, and equality under the law.

“I believe he understands that ruling in favor of equality will not be out of step with where the majority of Americans now sit. I am hoping that the other justices (at least most of them) will share this view, because I am certain that I am not the only relative that will be directly affected by their rulings,” she added.

In her op-ed, Podrasky cited Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) as a policymaker who was persuaded on the matter because of a family member who was gay.

“Ohio Senator Rob Portman’s recent change of heart got me thinking a little more about family relationships and the impact that living your life proudly, and honestly, may have on those who have yet to become allies,” Podrasky wrote.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court will hear a case on California’s Proposition 8 regarding the state’s voter-approved ban on gay marriage. On Wednesday, the high court hears arguments about the federal Defense of Marriage Act, the Clinton-era law that recognizes marriage as only between one man and one woman for federal government purposes.

CNSNews.com contacted the chief justice’s office, which referred the call to the Supreme Court public information office. CNSNews.com asked for confirmation of a story first reported by the Los Angeles Times that Podrasky and her partner would be at the hearing in seating reserved for family members and guests of Chief Justice Roberts.

CNSNews.com also asked if so, whether Roberts potentially would have a personal interest in the outcome of the case.

A spokesperson did not have a comment on the matter at press time. A staffer at the public information office told CNSNews.com in the morning and again in the late afternoon that Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathleen Arberg had the questions.

Podrasky also wrote, “Everyone in this country has a family member who is part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community. And that includes Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. You see, I am his first cousin. And I’m a lesbian.”

Roberts’ mother is Podrasky’s godmother, the L.A. Times reported. Podrasky told the Times that Roberts knows she is gay. She hoped to introduce her partner Grace Fasano to him in Washington, the L.A. Times reported. “I believe he sees where the tide is going. I do trust him. I absolutely trust that he will go in a good direction,” she told the newspaper.

The Times reported that Podrasky obtained the courtroom seats by emailing Roberts’ sister, Peggy Roberts, and then going through the chief justice’s secretary. Podrasky, Fasano, Podrasky’s sister and niece will attend Tuesday’s arguments on Proposition 8. On Wednesday, Podrasky’s father will take her niece’s place for the hearing on the challenge to the DOMA law.

In the lead up to the November 2008 election, Podrasky carried a sign that said, “Prop. 8 is hate,” the Times reported.

 

Miami Heat news: After hitting 26-game winning streak against Charlotte Bobcats, Heat hit the road

TIM REYNOLDS, AP BASKETBALL WRITER

MIAMI — Dwyane Wade’s only on-court contribution of the night was grabbing a microphone for LeBron James’ postgame interview. Chris Bosh was twice regaled by “Happy Birthday” singing from fans. Juwan Howard got his first minutes of the season.

Sunday was about fun for the Miami Heat.

A much bigger test – a four-game trip that could bring them to the cusp of catching the 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers – starts on Monday.

James finished with 32 points on 11 for 14 shooting, 10 assists and eight rebounds, Bosh scored 15 points and the Heat won their 26th straight game, topping the Charlotte Bobcats 109-77 on Sunday night.

The chance for No. 27 comes Monday against Orlando, a team that has taken the Heat to the limit twice already this season.

“It’s an opportunity just to treat it as a business trip,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “That’s what we talked about. This is a business trip. Let’s take care of (Monday) night. It’s not about the story line. It’s not about anything else.”

Norris Cole scored 15 points and Ray Allen added 14 for the Heat, who played without Wade, held from the lineup because of right knee soreness the team believes is minor. And after yet another slow start, Miami is now seven victories shy of matching those Lakers of Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Gail Goodrich – and a reserve named Pat Riley – for the NBA record.

After facing the Magic, Miami will visit Chicago, New Orleans and San Antonio.

Read more: http://www.wptv.com/dpp/sports/miami-heat-news-after-hitting-26-game-winning-streak-against-charlotte-bobcats-heat-hit-the-road#ixzz2OaMnzYGP

 

 

 

Florida man shoots and kills 17-year-old teen after argument over loud music at gas station denied bond.He will remain in jail until trial.

17-year-old Jordan Davis

Michael Skolnik ‏@MichaelSkolnik

 

Baby murdered in Brunswick: First look at younger suspect

BRUNSWICK, Ga. — A 15-year-old charged as an adult in the murder of a Brunswick baby made an appearance in court this morning. Dominique Lane is the younger of two teen suspects facing first degree murder charges.

Lane was in Magistrate Court in Glynn County to hear the formal charges read against him. His rights were also read to him. Lane did not enter a plea.

Another teen, 17-year-old De’Marquise Elkins is also facing first degree murder charges in the shooting death of Antonio Santiago. Elkins is scheduled to appear in court at 2 p.m.

Antonio was killed on Thursday morning at 9:15 a.m. His mother, Sherry West, says two teens were trying to rob her when they shot her in the leg, and then killed her baby.

 

Michele Bachmann faces congressional ethics probe

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) is under investigation by the Office of Congressional Ethics for alleged misuse of campaign funds, as first reported by the Daily Beast.

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) during a presidential debate last year. (Toni Sandys/The Washington Post)

“There are no allegations that the Congresswoman engaged in any wrongdoing,” said her attorney, William McGinley of Patton Boggs. “We are constructively engaged with the OCE and are confident that at the end of their Review the OCE Board will conclude that Congresswoman Bachmann did not do anything inappropriate.”

An OCE investigation is a preliminary probe; the office can either dismiss a case or recommend a full House Ethics Committee investigation.

Peter Waldron, who served as Bachmann’s national field coordinator in the 2012 presidential race, has filed an the Federal Election Commission complaint alleging that the lawmaker’s campaign improperly used leadership PAC funds to pay presidential campaign staff. He says he has spoken to investigators in what he described as “a very cordial two-hour meeting,” and other staffers tell the Daily Beast that the questions they were asked relate to the same payments. Waldron has also accused Bachmann’s team of not paying Iowa staffers and of attempting to force them to sign non-disclosure agreements.

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George Zimmerman’s Brother: ‘Black Teens’ Are Killers, Stirs Firestorm

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Since he shot and killed 17-year-old Trayvon Martin last year, George Zimmerman has been trying to convince the public that he was not acting simply out of racist aggression but because Martin attacked him. Zimmerman’s brother, Robert Zimmerman Jr, is not helping his cause. On Saturday, Zimmerman went on a Twitter tirade against “black teens,” equating the boy killed by his brother with De’Marquise Elkins, the 17-year-old suspect in the murder of a Georgia infant.

As highlighted by Mediaite, Zimmerman tweeted a photo comparison between Elkins and Martin flipping their middle fingers with the caption, “A picture speaks a thousand words…Any questions?”

Zimmerman tweeted the photo at Michael Moore, the NAACP, the NRA, and a Breitbart.com editor. He followed it up with another comparison between the two, tweeting “Teen to West: “Do you want me to shoot your baby?” #TrayvonMartin to #GeorgeZimmerman: You’re gonna die tonight Motherf**ker.”

In case the reason for his comparison of the two young black men was unclear, Zimmerman later tweeted:

Trayvon Martin was unarmed when Zimmerman allegedly followed him and shot him. He had no criminal record. Zimmerman had a history of calling the police to report suspicious black individuals, one as young as 7-9 years old. By his brother’s logic, this frequent suspicion of black people was not due to prejudice but because black people pose a genuine and constant threat to everyone around them.

Zimmerman’s trial is scheduled for June 10.

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Protesters Take To The Streets Again Over Kimani Gray’s Death

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) — Protesters took to the streets Sunday — a day after the funeral for Kimani Gray, the 16-year-old boy who was shot and killed by police in Brooklyn earlier this month.

Community groups gathered Sunday and marched to the 67th Precinct police station in Brooklyn, demanding that the officers who shot Gray be prosecuted.

Gray was shot and killed on March 9 by two officers in East Flatbush.

Carol Gray said her son was killed in front of his best friend’s house after a birthday party. Autopsy results showed he was shot seven times in his shoulders, arms and legs, with wounds to the front and back of his body.

But police said Gray was with a group of young men that night, standing in front of a home on East 52nd Street when the officers, from the Brooklyn South Anti-Crime Patrol, approached.

When the officers started to talk to the group, Gray began acting suspiciously, police said.

Police said at one point, Gray grabbed for something in his waistband. Gray then pulled out a gun and pointed it at the officers, according to police.

When the plainclothes officers saw the gun, they both fired, police said. Gray was pronounced dead at Kings County Hospital a short time later, police said.

Police said Gray was a gang member with several arrests to his name, but family members and neighbors said he was not in a gang and did not have a gun. Some have accused officers of planting the Rohm’s Industry .38-caliber revolver recovered at the scene, calling it a “drop gun.”

Protests against police actions in the case were held every night last week, from Monday through Thursday. Some of the protests led to violence and dozens of arrests.

Neighborhood teenagers have been joined in the protests by Occupy Wall Street activists, anti-stop-and-frisk policy, and representatives of anarchist and communist groups. The controversy was also the subject of a cover article in the Village Voice this week, which noted the discord that has mounted even amongst protesters in the wake of the incident.

Protesters have also appeared beyond East Flatbush. Last week, a woman addressed riders of the No. 1 line subway in uptown Manhattan, saying East Flatbush was under “martial law,” and accusing police of “murdering” Kimani Gray.

The claims about “martial law” and a “frozen zone” that had been locked down by police in East Flatbush, while widely reported on non-news Web sites, turned out to be false, the Village Voice reported.

Funeral services for Gray were held Saturday morning at St. Catherine of Genoa Church, at 520 Linden Blvd. in Brooklyn.