Proposition 8 Opponents Push To Release Trial Footage

Supporters of California’s Proposition 8 have been up in arms over former U.S. District Court Chief Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision to show a video clip from the landmark 2010 Perry v. Schwarzenegger trial, while giving a speech in February on the history of cameras in the courtroom.

The Prop 8 supporters argue that Walker defied a Supreme Court decision by showing the clip and have filed a motion requesting that all footage from the trial be returned to the Court and held “under seal.”

In response, Ted Olson and David Boies (the two layers involved in defeating Prop 8 in Perry), filed a motion of their own last week, demanding that the footage be released to the general public:

Through the present Motion, the Proponents of Proposition 8 seek to sequester and forever conceal from the American people video that accurately and without adornment depicts the testimony and argument each party presented at trial, and that the trial court considered when reaching the decision that Proponents now challenge. … Proponents’ fierce determination to shield access by any member of the American public to the actual compelling evidence which demonstrated the unconstitutionality of Proposition 8 and the paucity of evidence that Proponents presented in its defense directly conflicts with this Nation’s constitutional commitment to public and open judicial process and serves no legitimate public end.

Olson and Boies’ request may soon be echoed by attorneys for the City of San Francisco as well as attorneys for a coalition of interested media organizations, who are expected to file similar requests later this week.

If the Ninth Circuit Appeals Court decides to rule in favor of Prop 8’s opponents, then the public will finally have access to the full video footage of the Perry trial, much to the dismay of Prop 8’s supporters.

The frantic efforts of Prop 8’s supporters to stop the public from viewing footage from the trial demonstrates just how terrified they are of having to back up their anti-gay fears and horror stories with evidence.

Previously:

Prop 8 Defenders Accidentally Admit Same-Sex Marriage Has No Negative Consequences

Eastman: Gay People Shouldn’t Be Allowed To Decide Court Cases About Gay People

Ninth Circuit Rejects Request To Lift Stay On Same-Sex Marriages In California