All three candidates for Wisconsin Bar President replied to my email message asking for their views on Wisconsin’s proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage.

Their answers were surprisingly similar, which I think is a good thing.

Dean R. Dietrich indicated that although he personally opposes the legislation, believing "that this is a personal matter and definitely should not be a constitutional amendment," he has not yet made up his mind about whether or not individual sections of the bar should be allowed to lobby, and he does not think the bar as a whole should take a position.

G. Jeffery George answered with a cogent explanation of the process the bar has undertaken in order to attempt to resolve conflicting views on the issue between sections, but did not offer an opinion on the correct outcome of that process. He did, however, indicate that he did not think the bar’s governing rules would allow it to take a position as a whole. And as an individual, he says, "Personally I oppose this amendment. It seems another example of the religious right marginalizing members of our society."

Steve Levine believes that sections of the bar should be allowed to take positions on all issues, and although he didn’t say so directly, the implication was that any contradictions among sections are simply the result of, "The more free speech, the better; and the more sections that speak up, the better." On a personal level, he also opposes the constitutional amendment, noting, "I believe the proposed constitutional amendment is unnecessary, discriminatory, spiteful, and just a terrible idea — contrary to Wisconsin’s tradition of accepting everyone."

Obviously, I’m happy that the next President of the Wisconsin Bar Association will oppose the amendment to prohibit same-sex marriage. But this wasn’t very much help in terms of my voting.