Mass. judge who wrote gay marriage ruling retiring
The Massachusetts chief justice who wrote the state’s landmark ruling legalizing gay marriage has announced she’s stepping down.
Chief Justice Margaret Marshall said Wednesday she will retire by the end of October to spend more time with her husband, former New York Times columnist Anthony Lewis. The two-time Pulitzer Prize winner retired in 2001 and has Parkinson’s disease.
The 66-year-old Marshall is a native of South Africa. She was first appointed to the bench in 1996 after four years as general counsel and vice president of Harvard University. She became chief justice three years later.
She was criticized as a judicial activist by gay marriage opponents after writing the 4-3 decision that made Massachusetts the first state to legalize the practice.
Gov. Deval (deh-VAHL’) Patrick will nominate a new justice and chief justice.
Copyright Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
