Posted by Kromey at 1:46pm Feb 23 '11TL;DR of the link below: Obama and the DoJ have decided they will no longer defend the federal Defense of Marriage Act in court.
But isn't it the job of the DoJ and the Executive Branch of our government to enforce the laws? And doesn't that also extend to pursuing court decisions in favor of those laws? Deciding they'll no longer defend the law but still "enforce" it is just splitting hairs -- if they won't defend it in court, then anything they do outside of court to "enforce" it is little more than a worthless show.
What's the justification here of the Executive branch deciding not to support a federal law? Isn't that a violation of the checks and balances of our government? Aren't the laws passed by Congress and signed into law by the President supposed to bind the President to enforcing them? Since, y'know, that's his job!
The Atty Gen's statement in part justifies it by saying this has been done before; anyone have any clue when, by who, and what laws?
But isn't it the job of the DoJ and the Executive Branch of our government to enforce the laws? And doesn't that also extend to pursuing court decisions in favor of those laws? Deciding they'll no longer defend the law but still "enforce" it is just splitting hairs -- if they won't defend it in court, then anything they do outside of court to "enforce" it is little more than a worthless show.
What's the justification here of the Executive branch deciding not to support a federal law? Isn't that a violation of the checks and balances of our government? Aren't the laws passed by Congress and signed into law by the President supposed to bind the President to enforcing them? Since, y'know, that's his job!
The Atty Gen's statement in part justifies it by saying this has been done before; anyone have any clue when, by who, and what laws?