Prop 8 judge won't take part in parade

SAN FRANCISCO, June 27 (UPI) -- The judge who issued the initial ruling on Proposition 8 said he won't participate in the San Francisco gay pride parade following the Supreme Court's ruling.

The high court Wednesday upheld lower court rulings rejecting the ban on same-sex marriages in California. Thousands are expected to celebrate the ruling at a gay pride parade in San Francisco Saturday.

Vaughn R. Walker, who is gay, was randomly selected to preside over the 2010 case.

Walker declined to comment on his personal reaction to Wednesday's ruling and a second that overturned the Defense of Marriage Act.

Although Walker wouldn't comment on his feelings, he said the Supreme Court could have ruled on constitutional issues instead of issuing a limited, procedural decision, the Los Angeles Times said.

Attorneys who filed the federal lawsuit represented two same-sex couples challenging the constitutionality of Proposition 8. Walker, the chief judge, ruled the citizens initiative was unconstitutional under the due process and equal protection clauses of the Constitution.

Supporters of Proposition 8 said Walker should have stepped aside because he had a conflict of interest based on his sexual orientation but a federal appeals court disagreed.