The federal trial on the constitutionality of California’s same-sex marriage ban beginning next week will be videotaped and uploaded to a video-sharing Web site, the presiding judge ruled Wednesday.

Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who first floated the idea of broadcasting the highly anticipated proceedings live several months ago, said he decided instead to have court employees record the trial for delayed broadcast on the YouTube Web site.

Walker did not explicitly say why he favored a system that could keep the proceedings from being aired for hours instead of one that allowed for simultaneous broadcast. But he said he felt strongly that “it’s important for the transmission to be absolutely within the court’s control.”

It will be the first federal trial in a Western state and one of only a handful nationwide to be taped and aired in public in any form. It also will be the first federal trial on whether denying gays the right to wed constitutes unlawful discrimination to be taped and offered to the public.

The governing body for federal courts in the West recently approved a pilot program that would for the first time allow cameras in civil trials being decided by judges.

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The federal trial on the constitutionality of California’s same-sex marriage ban beginning next week will be videotaped and uploaded to a video-sharing Web site, the presiding judge ruled Wednesday. Chief U.S. District Judge Vaughn Walker, who first floated the idea of broadcasting the highly anticipated proceedings live several months ago, said he decided instead to [...]

Mayor of Campbell - EVANLOW

Sleepy, suburban Campbell’s City Council elected one of the youngest gay and youngest Asian American mayors in the country at a meeting Tuesday night.

The council promoted Evan Low, 26, from vice mayor to a one-year term as mayor of the 38,000-resident Silicon Valley city.

“He’ll have his work cut out for him, but I think he’ll find his way,” said City Councilman Michael Kotowski, who twice served as Campbell’s mayor. “He’ll do a good job if he does the normal things, but he’ll be an exceptional mayor if he gets out in the community and reaches out to people.”

Low is working on his master’s degree in public administration from San Jose State University, where he also earned an undergraduate degree in political science. He also attended an executive program at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

A resident of Campbell for eight years, Low works full time as senior district representative to Assemblyman Paul Fong, D-Sunnyvale.

Despite his busy schedule, Low said he’ll have time for the mayor’s job, which will include guiding the council through budget uncertainties and a for-profit hospital controversy.

“I’m passionate and energetic about all things I do,” he said. “This is not work for me. This is something I enjoy.” Read the rest of this entry »

Sleepy, suburban Campbell’s City Council elected one of the youngest gay and youngest Asian American mayors in the country at a meeting Tuesday night. The council promoted Evan Low, 26, from vice mayor to a one-year term as mayor of the 38,000-resident Silicon Valley city. “He’ll have his work cut out for him, but I [...]