Date: Mon, 17 Nov 1997 09:39:10 -1000 From: lambda@aloha.net (Martin Rice) Subject: AK 300: More Background on the Alaska Case Aloha kakahiaka kakou. Following please find more pertinent information from kaikua`ana Michael in Alaska: FEEDBACK From: michaelh@servcom.com The plaintiffs in the Alaska same-sex marriage case, Jay Brause and Gene Dugan, have a long history in the gay community here. They are the owners of the Out North Contemporary Art House in Anchorage - which is often at odds with conservative groups in Anchorage for its gay and other controversial subject matter used in plays and exhibits. The decision in their court case could come as early as Monday Nov. 17. Information on the couple and the Out North theatre is available on the Internet at www.outnorth.org Little is known about the Superior Court judge in the case, Peter Michalski, or his views on gay rights. He was sued several years ago by a man who claimed Michalski violated his civil rights by denying him a trial by jury. The defendant lost the case because, although it was agreed that Michalski acted outside his jurisdiction in the matter, he was nonetheless protected by judicial immunity. Judicial immunity protects judges from civil suits in cases where they are exercising their official responsibilities, even if they act outside their jurisdiction. The text of this court case can be found on the Internet at www.touchngo.com/sp/html/sp-3691.htm ~~pau~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "We have a firm commitment to NATO, we are a *part* of NATO. We have a firm commitment to Europe. We are a *part* of Europe." --Vice President Dan Quayle ~~~~~~ Fred and Martin, strangers before all but 16.7% of the law. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~