Hon. Judge Kramer
From ataniell93
Subject: Please write in support of Judge Kramer, the rule of law, and civil rights for gay & lesbian partners.
Dear friends and colleagues,
A judge is being followed 24/7 by bodyguards to protect him against death threats and hate mail that he has been receiving. You might think this story comes from Iraq, but it's happening in San Francisco right now. It's happening to Judge Richard Kramer, who recently issued a historic decision that determined it is against California's state constitution to deny civil marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples.
According to a good friend of mine who speaks with Judge Kramer regularly, Judge Kramer is depressed that mail against his decision outnumbers mail in favor by a ratio of 10 to 1. He is depressed because he is bathing daily in a bath of vituperation and hatred. He is depressed because the people who oppose his decision are not interested in the rule of law but the rule of ideologies and emotions.
So I am asking you a favor: Please take out your pen - yes, your pen, I ask for your hand in this - and write Judge Kramer a brief note of support.
If you live out of state, explain how it might touch and affect you to know that a California judge has had the courage to interpret the law scrupulously and in accordance with the evidence and our fundamental principles of equal justice for all, as our system requires.
Please note that Judge Kramer is known to be a conservative and prudent jurist. He is a married Catholic and a Republican, and was appointed to the bench by a Republican. So it is difficult to write off his opinion as one biased by a liberal or personal agenda.
And please, forward this email on to your own list, and ask your friends and colleagues to write as well. If we do not support and defend people who act with integrity and stand up for what is right, who will?
Your letter should be sent to:
Hon. Richard A. Kramer
Judge of the Superior Court
Superior Court of California
400 McAllister
San Francisco, California 94102-4514
Whether you agree with Judge Kramer's decision in Marriage Cases (which you can read in full if you follow the link below), I believe that all of you agree that there is no justification for threatening violence against a judge for performing his duties.
My letter's written, sealed, stamped, and waiting to be dropped in the post on the way to classes tomorrow. Write! For the text of the ruling, go here (pdf).