Santorum-endorsed judge: Politics was not a factor in decision to strike down marriage ban
The judge who struck down Pennsylvania’s marriage ban, despite being endorsed by anti-gay Republican Rick Santorum, has said politics was not a factor in the decision.
Judge John Jones struck down a Constitutional marriage ban on Tuesday, writing: “We are a better people than what these laws represent, and it is time to discard them into the ash heap of history.”
The strength of his words was surprising, as Jones was previously endorsed as a judge by anti-gay Republican Rick Santorum.
Santorum said at the judge’s confirmation in 2002: “John Jones is another outstanding lawyer and has served not just as an outstanding lawyer, but served the community beyond the practice of law.
“He also went to the same law school I went to. So he also has an outstanding legal education.”
Addressing the judgement today, Jones told the Morning Call: “I’m not responsible to any political party or benefactor or even to the person who appointed me. I’m responsible to the Constitution.
“I don’t really pay much attention to [criticism], honestly.
“Every time I make a decision, definitionally, I make someone happy and someone unhappy.”
Jones also said it was ‘remarkable’ he got the final word on the issue, as the state declined to take the judgement to appeals court.
He said: “We knew that it was going to be widely disseminated, and widely noticed.
“We had to assume that it might be appealed and that I might not have the last word.”
“It is remarkable when you write something as a district court and you find out within the week that it is the final decision.”
