The founder and president of a coalition of black pastors has called upon U.S. Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Elena Kagan to recuse themselves from the same-sex marriage case that is currently before the high court.
In a recent press release, Rev. William Owens of the Coalition of African-American Pastors (CAAP) cited Ginsburg’s and Kagan’s “stated bias” as reason to recuse themselves in order to preserve the integrity of the court. Owens and his organization have launched a petition to bring attention to the alleged “lack of impartiality” on the part of the two justices.
In February, Ginsburg, 81, said in an interview with Bloomberg Business that Americans are ready to accept a Supreme Court decision that legalizes same-sex marriage because of significant changes in attitudes toward gay individuals. Ginsburg also became the first Supreme Court justice to officiate at a same-sex wedding in Washington. Kagan has since officiated at a same-sex wedding as well.
“A Justice of the Supreme Court is called on to avoid the appearance of bias—especially on a highly controversial and sensitive issue that is currently before the Court,” said Owens. “And yet, both Justice Ginsburg and Justice Kagan have taken a public stance in favor of same-sex marriage, even going so far as to officiate at a same-sex wedding.”
“Not only is this a breach of ethics, but it calls into question the integrity of the Court and the supposed balance that the judicial branch is meant to provide in Constitutional interpretation,” he continued. “It is beyond objectionable that no action has yet been taken to ensure that the case will be adjudicated fairly. And so it falls to us, the people, to take action.”
CAAP has launched a petition urging Kagan and Ginsburg to recuse themselves from deciding on the issue.
“The Court has shown willingness in the past to insert itself in matters that are more properly the domain of the voters,” Owens said. “For a case that promises to dramatically affect the future of family, religious freedom, and much more, there cannot be any question of political bias on the part of the judges involved.”
With the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the “Bloody Sunday” march over the weekend, Owens was sharply critical of President Barack Obama for equating the civil rights movement with the movement for same-sex marriage.
“The LGBT community hijacked our movement, a movement they know nothing about,” Owens asserted. “President Obama is delusional to compare our struggle with the struggle for marriage equality. Gays have not had fire hoses or dogs unleashed at them. They have not been hung from trees or denied basic human rights.”
“President Obama didn’t march,” Owens continued. “He has benefited from those of us who did march, but for President Obama to say we marched so that gays would have the right to marry today, is a disgrace and a lie.”