Senator raises
questions to help stall
judge's nomination to
federal bench
BY SAM HANANEL and
KEN THOMAS, AP from the Detroit Free Press (freep.com)
on the Web, October
10, 2006
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Judge Janet T. Neff |
WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 -- A Michigan
judge's elevation to the federal bench could be derailed because she helped
reside over a commitment ceremony for a lesbian couple four years ago.
Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, has put a hold on the nomination of Michigan Court
of Appeals Judge Janet T. Neff, saying her presence at the 2002 Massachusetts
ceremony raises questions.
"It seems to speak about her view of judicial activism," Brownback said Friday.
He has asked the Justice Department for a legal opinion.
Neff did not return calls seeking comment Friday.
Massachusetts had not recognized gay marriages in 2002 but legalized same-sex
marriage two years later.
Conservative activists expressed concerns about Neff after seeing her name in a
September 2002 New York Times "Weddings/Celebrations" announcement. It
said Neff and a minister led the commitment ceremony for Karen Adelman and Mary
Curtin. The Senate Judiciary Committee last week approved Neff for a seat
on the U.S. District Court in Michigan's Western District; the nomination is
pending before the Senate. A single senator can block a nomination by
placing it on hold.
In Michigan, Neff is running unopposed for another six-year term in the appeals
court's 3rd District, which includes southwestern Michigan plus Jackson and
Livingston counties.
Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., who learned about the ceremony this week, said it
didn't sound like Neff did anything illegal.
"There's no reason why two people can't stand up and exchange commitments with
each other provided they don't do anything illegal," Levin said.
Gay activists said the inquiry is a publicity stunt.
"This has got nothing to do with legal or ethical concerns by Sam Brownback and
everything to do with him finding another opportunity to show himself to be the
mean-spirited bigot that he is," said Joe Solmonese, president of the Human
Rights Campaign.
Neff, 61, has served on the Michigan Court of Appeals since 1989. She was
nominated by President George W. Bush in June to fill one of three vacancies on
the district court.
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