A respected judge in the Florida Keys retired early last week after a blogger posted screenshots of his perfectly legal Manhunt profile online, sparking a discussion among online trolls about judges using “the world’s biggest gay hookup site.”
Judge David Audlin’s last day as Monroe County’s chief circuit judge was last Friday, though he announced his resignation earlier in April. He identified the continuing coverage of his now-deleted Manhunt profile as an “inappropriate invasion of my privacy” and the sole reason for his early retirement. “I’m looking forward to my constitutional rights being restored — my right to privacy and to be left alone in my private life,” he said.
Now 56, Audlin says he’s been out since he was 23 and never once tried to hide his sexuality during his years as an attorney and a judge. His Manhunt profile was discovered by a blog called JAA blog in January, which debated the “impropriety” of “a judge advertising his gavel length and width.”
Audlin did nothing illegal and has refused to apologize for creating the profile, which he contends was made on a private website for people 18 and older.
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“I think some people look at a gay judge’s personal life as being interesting or salacious,” he said. “I suppose it’s the times we live in. This whole matter has nothing to do with my service to the people or my work as a judge.”
Audlin is most noted for having overturned a 1977 decision that made the adoption of children by gay and lesbian couples illegal in 2008, directly affecting the lives of Wayne Larue Smith and Daniel Skahen, the first gay couple to adopt a child in the state of Florida.
lykeitiz
He lives & works in Key West of all places, not the bible belt. Was he really getting so much flak that it was necessary to step down? Like the article stated, he wasn’t doing anything illegal.
Dakotahgeo
Fu*kin’ Forida animals! That State needs 1000s ofinland alligators who love human flesh of GOTP extremists!
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Too bad he caved to the haters, he did not engage in any illegal activity and being that he represented the Keys area one would think he would have been able to keep his position………………..
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
@Dakotahgeo: I think that even gators would find those meals repulsive………..
Mike
Age 45?
ingyaom
@Mike: I’m with Mike. I thought the issue was that he was lying about his age, not that he was g@y.
Billy Budd
Someday nobody will be fired just for expressing their sexualities in public. Nobody, no matter what position they occupy.
robirob
Given what straight judges get away with I think that is a big pile of nothing.
gskorich
this is another losers attempt to get 15 minutes of fame, there are plenty of people on manhunt grindr scruff that are high profile people. this persons attempt to out this person is a fail. the guy has his face on his profile he isn’t hiding anything. its too bad there are media whores out there
ouragannyc
@Mike: Mike, he’s 45, going on 56.
stanhope
Once again the power of the dick is proven!!! Dick ends another career.
Dakotahgeo
@PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS: Yeah, dang it…What was I thinking??? You are so right!
QuintoLover
@Mike: He’s been a lawyer and a judge… life must have been hard on him. I’ve seen worse who were younger who didn’t work anywhere near as hard as a judge.
Ben Dover
@Mike:
@ingyaom:
Fortunately, perjury only applies in the courtroom, not on Manhunt!
Stache99
@ingyaom: If that was a real issue then 80% of the Manhunt regulars would be in trouble.
Merv
If you’re going to lie about your age, at least make it plausible. In no universe would people think he’s 45. He’s not bad looking, but he just doesn’t look 45.