You probably will not be surprised to learn that when politicians in New York forced through a law to redefine marriage over the will of the people this summer, they violated their own rules, and possibly the state constitution along the way.   (A poll taken a week before the law was passed found that a majority of New Yorkers did not want same-sex marriage and even more preferred to allow the people to vote on the matter, rather than the state legislature.)

What is surprising is that a New York Judge has sided with the Liberty Counsel agreeing that rules were violated and thus further legal review of the law is appropriate. Judge Robert Wiggens ruling yesterday is a blow to Governor Andrew Cuomo and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.  The judge specifically called Governor Cuomo's excuse for violating state open door laws "disingenuous."   Yet, he didn't stop there. The Judge also disapproved of the "clear arm-twisting by the Executive on the Legislative [that] permeates this entire process."

Whether this case ultimately leads to a redo of the law in the proper manner, or an actual vote of the people on this issue as a remedy is probably a long shot, but it is an interesting case to watch.  It would be nice to see a judge slap the hands of elected politicians who so intentionally rule over the will of the people. This would be particularly rewarding when politicians went so far as to discard laws and their own rules adopted to protect the public and the integrity of the legislative process.