Although his nomination to the bench in the late 1980s was originally opposed by gay rights groups for his role in forcing the then-called Gay Olympic Games to change its name, Judge Vaughn Walker would go on to rule against California’s Proposition 8, making his state the first to find against a ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage. Although Perry v. Schwarzenegger brought him national attention, his law career contained thousands of complex cases involving mail theft, copyright, antitrust, prisoners of war, and securities. At the time of this writing Walker has retired from his position as judge and moved into private practice.
Following Perry Walker came out as a gay man, and was subject to accusations of judicial bias. His 1989 confirmation makes him the first LGBT judge to have served in the federal judiciary.
We Were There 