Federal Judge Overturns Prop 8

San Francisco federal judge,  Judge Vaughn Walker, has overturned California's voter-approved gay marriage ban. The judges ruling declared that the ballot initiative outlawing gay unions in California violates the due process and equal protection clauses of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution and sets the stage for a likely Supreme Court challenge to determine the authority of the state to ban same-sex marriage.

Walker's decision marks the first federal test of a state law outlawing gay marriage. Gay-marriage opponents  sought a stay on Walker's ruling, to prevent a decision against them from unleashing a wave of gay marriages in the state before they could mount an appeal. Prop. 8 backers say they plan to appeal the decision to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Judge Walker is set to rule on the stay this Friday or possibly early next week. Prop 8 proponents have planned a march from the Casto to City Hall this evening. There will not be any gay marriage licenses distributed in the state until the judge gives his order though.

Two Killed In Oakland On Friday Night

Oakland police were investigating two homicides today on opposite sides of the city. Samier Ayesh, 22, of Hayward was found shot in the parking lot of a business on the 8600 block of International Boulevard in East Oakland shortly before 11 p.m. Friday, said Officer Jeff Thomason, Oakland police spokesman.

Ayesh was pronounced dead at the scene.

At 6:30 p.m. Friday, a 24-year-old man was shot on the 800 block of Athens Avenue in West Oakland. The man, whose name was not immediately released, died at Highland Hospital at 3 a.m. today, Thomason said. No arrests have been made in the slayings, and a motive for each shooting is under investigation.

Oscar Grant/Mehserle Trial To Begin On June 8

The case centers around the 2009 murder of Oscar Grant III on New Year's Day 2009 at the Fruitvale station in Oakland. According to video that hit the web like fire last year, Mehserle shot and killed Grant on the tracks after breaking up a fight. Mehserle's lawyer, Michael Rains, has admitted Mehserle shot and killed Grant but claims the shooting was accidental because the former officer meant to use his Taser stun gun on Grant but fired his gun by mistake.

With the trial of former transit police officer Johannes Mehserle set to begin on June 8, potential jurors will be faced with a questionnaire that poses more than 120 questions. The questions, which were posted on the Los Angeles Superior Court website, asks whether jurors could put aside race to see the truth of the case, one question in particular asks jurors if they could overlook the fact that Mehserle is white and Grant was Black. A pool of potential jurors for Mehserle's trial is set to report to Los Angeles County Superior Court on Wednesday to fill out the questionnaire to determine their eligibility.

Five Arrested At Funeral For Man Who Was Shot By Teenage Girlfried

 

Five people were arrested Tuesday afternoon after a shooting took place around 12:33 p.m. at Oakland’s Cosmopolitan Baptist Church during a funeral for Davante Riley, 18, who was allegedly killed last week by his teenage girlfriend at his birthday party at an apartment in the 2200 block of East 20th Street early the morning of April 18.

UPS Work Center Shooting

One man is in custody Sunday following a workplace double shooting that began shortly after 9 a.m in the parking lot of the UPS facility involving as many as three employees in Richmond, CA. An employee opened fire on a fellow employee in the loading area of the UPS Customer Center Richmond Facility on Atlas Rd. Details of the shooting remained a little confusing and under investigation since the alleged gunman was also found wounded in a nearby backyard. Pop the yellow link for more of the story.

6.5 Quake Rattles Northern California

A magnitude 6.5 earthquake rattled Northern California yesterday. The quake's epicenter was of the offshore off the Northern California coast where three faults meet. The quake caused widespread superficial damage to several homes and businesses and left thousand of PG&E customers without power. People in the region are still dealing with clean-up efforts and aftershocks. There were no reports of deaths or injuries.

Police Find Person Of Interest In Dragging Death

UPDATE:

San Jose police have located a woman considered a person of interest in the death of a 20-year-old San Jose woman who was found lying in the middle of an Alviso-area street Monday. Jennifer Bautista, 19, was pulled over by police at about 10:40 a.m. as she was driving near Tully Road and South Seventh Street, Officer Jermaine Thomas said. He declined to give further details on the traffic stop, but said police are questioning Bautista and a passenger who was in the car.

Woman Dragged To Death And Left For Dead

San Jose police are searching for the alleged ex-girlfriend of 20-year-old Norma Leticia Martinez, who Monday died after being dragged beneath a car and left for dead. Hit the yellow link below for more.

Mom Found Criminally Insane In Death Of Her Son

A Contra Costa County Superior Court judge in Martinez has found a Richmond woman not guilty by reason of insanity on charges that she murdered her 8-year-old son in 2006. Teresa Moses, 26, was originally charged with felony child abuse, torture and murder in connection with her son Raijon Daniels' death. She pleaded no contest to first-degree murder Monday morning. In exchange for her plea, the district attorney's office dropped the remaining charges.

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Suspect Arrested In Murder Of Berkeley Mother And Baby

Oakland resident Curtis Martin III, 38, has been held without bail at Berkeley city jail since he was arrested Friday afternoon. Martin will be arraigned Tuesday at 2 p.m. in Alameda County Superior Court, police said. He faces one count of murder so far.

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