Non secular Regulation
Court docket awards $640K to evaluate who refused to marry same-sex {couples}
A choose in Waco, Texas, who was disciplined for refusing to carry out same-sex weddings was awarded $640,000 in her lawsuit in opposition to the state’s judicial oversight company. (Picture from Shutterstock)
A choose in Waco, Texas, who was disciplined for refusing to carry out same-sex weddings was awarded $640,000 in her lawsuit in opposition to the state’s judicial oversight company.
In a June 16 decision, Travis County, Texas, Decide Maya Guerra Gamble dominated in favor of McLennan County, Texas, magistrate Dianne Hensley, who introduced a declare in opposition to the Texas State Fee on Judicial Conduct for violating her rights below the Texas Non secular Freedom Restoration Act. The statute prohibits the federal government from burdening an individual’s train of faith.
Gamble ordered the Texas State Fee on Judicial Conduct to pay Hensley $10,000 in compensatory damages and $630,000 in legal professional charges and different bills. The choose additionally enjoined the fee from “investigating, sanctioning or disciplining” Hensley over her resolution to not marry same-sex {couples} due to her non secular beliefs.
In 2019, Hensley obtained a public warning from the Texas State Fee on Judicial Conduct after the company realized of her resolution to solely officiate weddings for heterosexual {couples}, in accordance with a narrative from KERA News. The choose, who cited her Christian religion, referred same-sex {couples} to different native officiants.
In the course of the long-running dispute, the Texas State Fee on Judicial Conduct withdrew the sanction in opposition to Hensley in 2024. The Texas Supreme Court docket in October additionally amended the state judicial conduct guidelines to permit judges to say no to carry out marriage ceremony ceremonies that go in opposition to their non secular beliefs.
“I believe the company overstepped itself, and what we noticed was their bias on the problem and never the regulation,” Hensley instructed KERA Information after the choice final week.
The Texas State Fee on Judicial Conduct didn’t reply to KERA Information’ request for remark.
The Texan and Houston Public Media have further protection.
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