quote:

Interracial couple denied marriage license

La. justice of the peace cites concerns about any children couple might have

HAMMOND, La. - A Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have.
Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long.
Neither Bardwell nor the couple immediately returned phone calls from The Associated Press. But Bardwell told the Daily Star of Hammond that he was not a racist.
"I do ceremonies for black couples right here in my house," Bardwell said. "My main concern is for the children."
‘I feel the children will later suffer’
Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.
"I don't do interracial marriages because I don't want to put children in a situation they didn't bring on themselves," Bardwell said. "In my heart, I feel the children will later suffer."
If he does an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.
"I try to treat everyone equally," he said.
Thirty-year-old Beth Humphrey and 32-year-old Terence McKay, both of Hammond, say they will consult the U.S. Justice Department about filing a discrimination complaint.
Humphrey told the newspaper she called Bardwell on Oct. 6 to inquire about getting a marriage license signed. She says Bardwell's wife told her that Bardwell will not sign marriage licenses for interracial couples.
"It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009," said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzman. "The Supreme Court ruled as far back as 1963 that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry."

‘He knew he was breaking the law’
The ACLU was preparing a letter for the Louisiana Supreme Court, which oversees the state justices of the peace, asking them to investigate Bardwell and see if they can remove him from office, Schwartzman said.
"He knew he was breaking the law, but continued to do it," Schwartzman said.
According to the clerk of court's office, application for a marriage license must be made three days before the ceremony because there is a 72-hour waiting period. The applicants are asked if they have previously been married. If so, they must show how the marriage ended, such as divorce.
Other than that, all they need is a birth certificate and Social Security card.
The license fee is $35, and the license must be signed by a Louisiana minister, justice of the peace or judge. The original is returned to the clerk's office.

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Originally posted by 4403771:
Until I saw the video, I thought that this was some kind of prank post.

Then I watched the video.... O.M.G.!!!

I do see racists occaisionally, from all parts of the color wheel. But a JP that refuses to obey the law because of his bigotry?? UNBELIEVEABLE!

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Originally posted by 21194237:
Could it be that I’ve misunderstood this thread title? The person in question did NOT deny a marriage license; he had NO authority to do so. He merely made a decision to not marry the couple in question, NO? He had that right, did he not? As the law does NOT obligate one to perform ceremonies, he broke NO law....YES?

Simply because gay/lesbian couples obtain marriage licenses doesn’t obligate any/all who might perform a ceremony to do so, either!

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Originally posted by DaleU:

quote:

Originally posted by 21194237:
Could it be that I’ve misunderstood this thread title? The person in question did NOT deny a marriage license; he had NO authority to do so. He merely made a decision to not marry the couple in question, NO? He had that right, did he not? As the law does NOT obligate one to perform ceremonies, he broke NO law....YES?

Simply because gay/lesbian couples obtain marriage licenses doesn’t obligate any/all who might perform a ceremony to do so, either!

_sir, if you had read the article you would know the answer to that. It seems like you do that quite a bit, commenting on things w/out reading them first. Hmmmm.

The JP did deny a marriage license to the couple. Additionally, while I don’t know the exact law in Louisiana, it seems like as a government official/employee he would be obligated to marry anyone who was legally qualified!

A member of the clergy would be a different matter in that, while they are licensed to perform marriages, they are not government employees, i.e. the state allows them to perform the ceremonies, but they are not required (by the state) to do them, therefore they don’t have the same obligations that a Justice of the Peace would have.

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Originally posted by 21194237:

quote:

Originally posted by DaleU:
_sir, if you had read the article you would know the answer to that. It seems like you do that quite a bit, commenting on things w/out reading them first. Hmmmm.

The JP did deny a marriage license to the couple. Additionally, while I don’t know the exact law in Louisiana, it seems like as a government official/employee he would be obligated to marry anyone who was legally qualified!

A member of the clergy would be a different matter in that, while they are licensed to perform marriages, they are not government employees, i.e. the state allows them to perform the ceremonies, but they are not required (by the state) to do them, therefore they don’t have the same obligations that a Justice of the Peace would have.

It SEEMS?

Oh well, thanx for admitting that....ya just don’t know!

quote:

Originally posted by DaleU:

quote:

Originally posted by 21194237:

quote:

Originally posted by DaleU:
_sir, if you had read the article you would know the answer to that. It seems like you do that quite a bit, commenting on things w/out reading them first. Hmmmm.

The JP did deny a marriage license to the couple. Additionally, while I don’t know the exact law in Louisiana, it seems like as a government official/employee he would be obligated to marry anyone who was legally qualified!

A member of the clergy would be a different matter in that, while they are licensed to perform marriages, they are not government employees, i.e. the state allows them to perform the ceremonies, but they are not required (by the state) to do them, therefore they don’t have the same obligations that a Justice of the Peace would have.

It SEEMS?

Oh well, thanx for admitting that....ya just don’t know!

Apparently you don’t know either, _sir. Is that because you spend all your time making smartass comments instead of doing the necessary research to talk intelligently on a subject?