Texas Judge Who Refused to Officiate Same-Sex Weddings Awarded $640K
The ruling adds $630,000 in fees and $10,000 in damages after a public admonition over her refusal to officiate same-sex weddings.
- A Travis County District Court awarded McLennan County Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley more than $640,000 earlier this week, concluding the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct violated her religious freedom by disciplining her for refusing to officiate same-sex weddings.
- Following the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges legalizing same-sex marriage, Hensley began referring same-sex couples to other officiants, citing her "Bible-believing" Christian conscience and desire to maintain her faith commitments.
- Ruling that the commission violated the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, Travis County Judge Maya Guerra Gamble ordered the state agency to pay $630,000 in attorney fees and $10,000 in damages to Hensley.
- "People cannot be forced into participating in things that they have a religious disagreement with," said Attorney Hiram Sasser of First Liberty Institute, adding the ruling vindicated Hensley's adherence to legal guidance.
- During the eight-year legal battle, the Texas Legislature reformed the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, and the Texas Supreme Court amended judicial ethics rules to provide greater religious accommodations for judges.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Texas judge who refused to marry gay couples wins $640k in lawsuit
Earlier this week, a Texas judge ruled that the State Commission on Judicial Conduct could not enforce disciplinary action against a Waco justice of the peace for refusing to perform same-sex wedding ceremonies, as reported by NPR/PBS affiliate Kera News.Travis County Judge Maya Guerra Gamble, a Democrat, awarded McLennan County Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley $10,000 in damages and $630,000 in attorney’s fees on the grounds that the commiss…
Court RULES After Judge Refused to Officiate Same-Sex Wedding
A Texas court has awarded more than $640,000 to a justice of the peace who was disciplined after declining to officiate same-sex weddings because of her religious beliefs. The ruling marks the end of an eight-year legal battle over religious liberty and the rights of public officials to decline participation in ceremonies that conflict with their faith. Judge Dianne Hensley will receive $10,000 in damages after a Travis County district court fou…
Texas Supreme Court Ruling Leads To $640K+ Victory For JP Who Declined Same-Sex Marriages
A Texas justice of the peace who declined to officiate same-sex weddings because of her religious beliefs has been awarded more than $640,000 after a Travis County district court ruled that the state’s judicial oversight agency violated her rights. McLennan County Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley was awarded $10,000 in compensatory damages, while the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct was ordered to pay approximately $630,000 in attor…
Court awards former judge $640,000 in same-sex wedding dispute
Court awards former judge $640,000 in same-sex wedding dispute · American Wire News
A Texas judge who was disciplined for recusing herself from performing same-sex marriages has won a $640,000 lawsuit. McLennan County Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley, who’s been at her post since she won election in 2014, declined to officiate all weddings after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of gay weddings way back in 2015, according to the Houston Chronicle. @SenatorBirdwell and @DocAnderson4TX with their choice for Pct 1 JP, Dianne He…
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