California Outs Its Judges

This is incredibly creepy:

In order to make sure gays and lesbians are adequately represented on the judicial bench, the state of California is requiring all judges and justices to reveal their sexual orientation. The announcement was made in an internal memo sent to all California judges and justices.

“[The Administrative Office of the Courts] is contacting all judges and justices to gather data on race/ethnicity, gender identification, and sexual orientation,” reads an email sent by Romunda Price of the Administrative Office of the Courts. A copy of Price’s memo was obtained by THE WEEKLY STANDARD.

“Providing complete and accurate aggregate demographic data is crucial to garnering continuing legislative support for securing critically needed judgeships,” Price writes.

So, let me get this straight: the state compels its judges to reveal whether or not they are attracted to people of their own sex — this, for the ostensibly praiseworthy goal of making sure more people like them received judgeships. But what if the state were forcing judges to reveal this deeply private information for the goal of making sure gays and lesbians were not awarded judgeships? It would be seen as what it is: tyranny.

This is an outrageous violation of privacy. The state has no right to this information. I hope California judges, both straight and gay, refuse to provide it.