'Independence' cited by justice in same-sex case
from The Des Moines Register
...The unanimous Varnum decision overturned a state law that defined marriage as the union of a man and woman. The court's seven justices ruled that the Iowa Defense of Marriage Act violated the equal protection rights of six same-sex couples who were denied marriage licenses in Polk County.
[Iowa Supreme Court Justice Mark] Cady urged the graduates not to shy from unpopular work as lawyers, because "you may very well be performing your most important work. Remember, what is popular at a given time is not always right."
The justice then cited the work of John Adams, who defended British soldiers against manslaughter charges in 1770 for their role in the Boston Massacre.
"In Varnum, we likewise just did our job," Cady said. "We did our job as judges, and this is what led to our unanimous decision."
