Petrelis Files

Which 2008 Presidential Hopeful
Got $$$ from CA Chief Justice?

Ronald George, the chief justice of the California Supreme Court who wrote the majority decision this week favoring equal marriage rights for gays, and was appointed to the bench by arch-conservative ex-governor Pete Wilson, is a supporter of Hillary Clinton's bid for the White House. Earlier this year, George donated $500 to Clinton's presidential campaign, which is now a sputtering failure.

I don't find his contribution to Clinton all that surprising because she appeals to many conservative voters, and George is viewed as a conservative jurist. What forces me to raise an eyebrow and mutter "huh?," is that he made any donation in such a furnace-hot political environment.

Federal Election Commission records reveal that George is the only member of the California Supreme Court to have written a check to a presidential candidate in the 2008 race. Other justices have given to past senatorial and presidential candidates, and a GOP county committee, FEC records show.

Taking into account the list of donations from the California justices, I imagine right-wingers who bemoan "activist judges," like Sen. John McCain did this week, have used these contributions as proof to back up their claims of judicial activism, especially when decisions are rendered that they don't approve of or an individual judge's personal money is directed to a candidate of the opposing party.

Regardless of how liberals, moderates or conservatives characterize the California justices or judges on any bench, I'm happy we have laws, and web sites, that provide transparency to campaign financing, so we can follow the money.

These donations come from NewsMeat.com's FEC records:

George, Ronald
San Francisco , CA 94107
State of California/Chief Justice
HILLARY CLINTON FOR PRESIDENT $250
primary 02/21/08

George, Ronald
San Francisco , CA 94107
State of California/Chief Justice
HILLARY CLINTON FOR PRESIDENT $250
primary 02/07/08

WERDEGAR, KAY
ROSS, CA 94957
HOMEMAKER
FEINSTEIN FOR SENATE $1,000
primary 05/31/02

WERDEGAR, KAY M
ROSS, CA 94957
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
PETE WILSON FOR PRESIDENT COMMITTEE INC $500
primary 12/30/96

WERDEGAR, KAY M
ROSS, CA 94957
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
PETE WILSON FOR PRESIDENT COMMITTEE INC $500
primary 06/16/95

WERDEGAR, KAY
ROSS, CA 94957
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
CALIFORNIANS FOR SENATOR PETE WILSON $500
primary 08/22/85

CHIN, MING W
ALAMEDA, CA 94501
STATE OF CA
SAN FRANCISCO REPUBLICAN COUNTY CENTRAL CMTE FEDERAL FUND (R) $200
primary 09/10/91

BAXTER, MARVIN
FRESNO, CA 93727
STATE OF CALIFORNIA
HAYTAIAN - U S SENATE '94 $250
general 09/28/94