US Judge Selects Work based on Clients Race

[Papewaio]

US judge quits after refusing to marry inter-racial couple

A Louisiana justice of the peace who refused to marry a couple because the bride was white and groom was black has resigned.

Keith Bardwell, who is white, quit the post with a one-sentence statement to Louisiana Secretary of State Jay Dardenne and no explanation of his decision: "I do hereby resign the office of Justice of the Peace for the Eighth Ward of Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, effective November 3, 2009."

Bardwell refused to perform the ceremony for Beth Humphrey and Terence McKay because they are of different races.

When questioned about his refusal, Bardwell acknowledged he routinely recuses himself from marrying inter-racial couples because he believes such marriages cause harm to the couples' children. In interviews, he said he refers such couples to other justices of the peace, who then perform the ceremony, which happened in this case.

Ok, if I a private worker in Australia refused to do a job for people based on their race I could get done for racial vilification. I'm not sure how bad it would go if I was a public servant refusing to do my job based on the race of the applicants (imagine the difficulties if Airport Immigration agents did such).

So what are the possible ramifications for his behaviour? Is it another case were if he resigns he cannot be charged for his choices in office?

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Judges should be forced to resign when they turn 45.

[Major Robert Dump]

The only people who give mixed race kids a hard time are people like him. Maybe he's trying to absolve his guilt from picking on the colored kids by blaming it on their parents who should have known better.

If I were the couple, I would have refused to leave until married. Let him lock me up for contempt, that's just more money and more media attention for me when I sue the living crap out of him. What really makes me mad is that even though this is a rare situationb, it really gives a lot of ammo to those who like to say we have made NO progress in equality, etc.

They need to go back and review every case this guy ever tried involving minorities and mixed race couples.

[HoreTore]

Good riddance.

deleted by moderator

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Judges should be forced to resign when they turn 45.

45? We don't appoint judges that young, usually.

Anyway, the man is a racist. While i don't think he can really be prosecuted, he shouldn't have kept his job.

[Beskar]

Would he marry two black people?

[ICantSpellDawg]

Would he marry two black people?

Yes. He recounts that he marries two black people regularly.

I believe that people should be able to recuse themselves for any reason whatsoever, unless they are doing it to avoid work. Personally I think inter-racial marriage is fine, but I'm not that offended that somebody doesn't agree. I think marrying people with whom you have the most in common is sensible, but I also see the benefits of marrying someone totally different.

Should ministers be forced to marry two people of the same gender if the State allows it? What some of you are suggesting is that they should have no basis to deny the action. Give people freedom of conscience, you thought police.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Yes. He recounts that he marries two black people regularly.

I believe that people should be able to recuse themselves for any reason whatsoever, unless they are doing it to avoid work. Personally I think inter-racial marriage is fine, but I'm not that offended that somebody doesn't agree. I think marrying people with whom you have the most in common is sensible, but I also see the benefits of marrying someone totally different.

Should ministers be forced to marry two people of the same gender if the State allows it? What some of you are suggesting is that they should have no basis to deny the action. Give people freedom of conscience, you thought police.

Ministers should be able to recuse themselves, but then again they don't judge criminal trials as well yes? And aren't public officials.

[el_slapper]

Hell, isn't the current POTUS a child of an interracial(even if short-lived) wedding? Some are really not awar of the era they're living in.....

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Yes. He recounts that he marries two black people regularly.

I believe that people should be able to recuse themselves for any reason whatsoever, unless they are doing it to avoid work. Personally I think inter-racial marriage is fine, but I'm not that offended that somebody doesn't agree. I think marrying people with whom you have the most in common is sensible, but I also see the benefits of marrying someone totally different.

Should ministers be forced to marry two people of the same gender if the State allows it? What some of you are suggesting is that they should have no basis to deny the action. Give people freedom of conscience, you thought police.

He exercised his freedom of conscience by resigning. If you cannot in good conscience perform the tasks you are being required to perform, you resign (or recuse yourself if the issue is transient). This was not a member of the clergy who, as a BYPRODUCT of their religious office, is called upon to perform a civil union as a concurrent process with a religious marriage. This was a public official asked to perform one of the functions of their office by two persons with a right to do so and who had/were willing to, pay all appropriate fees etc. If my state senator refuses to attend meetings at the statehouse and refuses to participate in legislative committee work, she shouldn't have the job. If she lacks the honor to resign, I will have no problem participating in the recall effort to remove her from office.

[Major Robert Dump]

Yes. He recounts that he marries two black people regularly.

I believe that people should be able to recuse themselves for any reason whatsoever, unless they are doing it to avoid work. Personally I think inter-racial marriage is fine, but I'm not that offended that somebody doesn't agree. I think marrying people with whom you have the most in common is sensible, but I also see the benefits of marrying someone totally different.

Should ministers be forced to marry two people of the same gender if the State allows it? What some of you are suggesting is that they should have no basis to deny the action. Give people freedom of conscience, you thought police.

You're kidding right? He's a public servant who gets all the benefits of being such. A pastor or a priest is not a public official. I guess cops should be able to turn down murder investigations because the victim was homeless and the public school should not allow fat kids to enroll, too. The law is the law is the law. I hope they sue his butt off.

[Centurion1]

ahh this guys a total piece of crap who reflects badly on his country, i apologize for him, the ******