Democrats attack Southwick on gay issues

At yesterday's Senate Judiciary Committee on Leslie Southwick, Democrats attacked the judge for ruling according to Mississippi law simply because they do not agree with the law.

Clarion Ledger: Southwick voted to uphold a decision giving custody of an 8-year-old girl to her father instead of to her bisexual mother. He also joined other judges in a written decision that referred to the mother's "homosexual lifestyle." Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, a Democrat from Rhode Island who presided over Thursday's hearing, said the phrase "is highly associated with a particular point of view that is not favorable to gay rights." Southwick, who at times seemed surprised by the line of questioning, said he followed Mississippi law. In 2001, when the case was active, state law considered homosexuality a moral issue that could influence custody decisions. "It was the stated policy ... regarding homosexuality," Southwick said, adding, "The law is evolving as to the fundamental rights of gay relationships."

Also find the story here.

The story also suggests that some of the opposition is not to Southwick personally but to the matter that President Bush has not nominated a black person for this position. Andy Taggart takes up this matter in his Red/Blue blog at ClarionLedger.com.

As usual, the opposition to this Bush nominee comes from national Democrats and the far-left. In Mississippi, Jere Nash (the blue side of the Red/Blue blog) also hopes Southwick gets confirmed.