Wednesday, January 8, Deputy Attorney General Rick Eichor appealed Judge Chang's Circuit Court ruling to Hawaii's Supreme Court. In his appeal, he indicated that he will ask the Hawaii Supreme Court to stay Judge Chang's decision until the Legislature finishes its attempt to amend Hawaii's Constitution so as to overturn Judge Chang's decision.
Rick Eichor appeared last night, Jan. 10, on the pubic television program "Dialog", with Dan Foley, Representative Terrance Tom (Chair of the House Judiciary Committee) and Senator Mike McCartney (member of the Senate Judiciary Committee).
Eichor is still beating the "what next" drum: same gender marriage will lead to overturning statutes against incest, polygamy, sex with minors, and might lead to allowing people to marry their dogs, chairs, etc. Foley quietly pointed out that the first Hawaii Supreme Court ruling on the same gender marriage held, specifically, that statutes against incest, polygamy, etc. DID HAVE A COMPELLING STATE INTEREST. Judge Kevin Chang, in his Dec. 1996 ruling, totally and completely rejected the "slippery slope" and "what next" argument. Moreover, in the September 1996 Circuit Court trial, Eichor presented NO arguments or evidence, not one witness, in support of his "slippery slope" fears. He simply asserted those fears without evidence, in fact in the face of clear statements from the Hawaii Supreme Court.
So, Eichor assertions are for propaganda purposes only, for inflaming Terrance Tom and Mike McCartney ignored these prejudicial remarks of Eichor. Foley quietly pointed to the court record.
What's even more amazing, is that Eichor has been promoted within the
Attorney General's office.
Best Regards,
Tom Ramsey
P.S. h.e.r.m.p (Hawaii Equal Rights
Marriage Project) is the sole organization paying the legal fees of Dan
Foley as he answers this appeal from Eichor and engages in all the technicalities
of that process. Donations to h.e.r.m.p are fully tax-deductible,
and may be mailed to h.e.r.m.p, PO Box 11690, Honolulu, HI 96828.