The Texas Commission on Judicial Conduct has slapped a Waco, Texas judge with a warning for refusing to marry same-sex couples despite the 2015 SCOTUS ruling on marriage equality.
The Houston Chronicle reports Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley will perform marriages for straight couples but has refused to marry same-sex couples citing her “conscience and religion.”
In 2017, Hensley, she told the Waco-Herald that she demanded a “religious exemption” from performing same-sex ceremonies, saying “I’m entitled to accommodations just as much as anyone else.”
She had also proposed to the Commission that she recuse herself from performing same-sex weddings if her refusal to do so would question her impartiality. The Commission refused.
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The Commission on Judicial Conduct issued a warning to Hensley on Monday, saying her refusal to perform same-sex marriages cast “doubt on her capacity to act impartially to persons appearing before her as a judge due to the person’s sexual orientation.”
A warning issued by the commission is the second-highest order of discipline the committee can take against a judge. Should Hensely’s refusal to perform same-sex marriages continue, the Commission on Judicial Conduct could impeach her, removing her from her judicial post.
In Texas, judges acting as justices of the peace can collect thousands of dollars in personal income by officiating weddings. Since 2016, a number of them have refused to perform marriages altogether, lest they have to officiate for same-sex couples.
Related: Texas teacher claims he was fired after coming out as gay to his students
Cam
The whole “Right wing bigots playing victim if their illegal bigotry is called out” defense is tired. I’m surprised they’re still trying it.
Tombear
God! That woman’s face belongs in a wax museum!
winemaker
Actually this so called ‘judge’ if you want to call her that looks more like she’s being prepared for mummification in its early stages of the process. BTW: why is she able to discriminate as she’s an elected judge sworn to uphold the law despite any objections to it on so called ‘moral grounds’? I believe we had something like this in KY a few years back with some county clerk bitch named kim davis who was opposed to marriage equality despite being divorced several times and is a so called ‘Christian’, and the BS kept going on and on and seems to be still be going on and on.. I won’t rehash the details but she lost her case big time and hopefully this ‘judge’ will lose the bench and be debarred from law practice for this.
wikidBSTN
So, could she refuse to marry Non-Christians or interfaith couples? What about remarrying a divorced person? No exemption should be given b/c this is a state position and she admits she is unwilling to fulfill the duties and obligations of that position. You don’t get to pick and choose.
PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
It’s quite simple:
You are completely free to CHOOSE a religion and abide by it’s tenants. However being Gay is not a CHOICE.
Our RIGHTS as citizens trump this truly vile disturbing looking crunt’s
BELIEFS as a member of it’s religion…
Wolfwalk
So she’s “. . .entitled to accommodations just as much as anyone else.” When I see that phrase used, it’s usually in conjunction with someone’s disability or handicap. So she’s admitting her religion is a disability and handicaps her.
Hdtex
It would be horrible if folks called her office at 254-757-5040