Calls for resignation of JP who refused marriage license to interracial couple

Posted: Oct 16, 2009 5:31 PM


 NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Outrage over a justice of the peace who refused to issue a marriage license for an interracial couple grew Friday, with civil and constitutional rights organizations calling for him to resign.

   Marjorie Esman, director of the Louisiana American Civil Liberties Union, said the group wants Keith Bardwell to resign immediately before he "infringes on the constitutional rights of another person."

   Bardwell, a white justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, refused to issue a license or marry Beth Humphrey, who is white, and Terence McKay, who is black.
  
  Bardwell said he always asks if a couple is interracial and, if they are, refers them to another justice of the peace. He said he believes the children of such unions face troubling futures.

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  • Avatar for irishrose
    High + − !
    irishrose at Oct 17th 2009 12:14 PM

    Outrage? That's funny. So he gets blasted & people call for his resignation for him stating his opinion? He's been a JP for 34 years. He's not required to hand out a license to everyone who stops by. True or False: It's the Clerk of Court's job to hand them out regardless, as long as the pending marriage is not prohibited by law. People need to start picking their battles. I don't think this particular one is it.

  • Avatar for Bruce
    Higher + − !
    Bruce at Oct 17th 2009 6:20 AM

    Outrage?? Really?? It just blows me away to think that so many people can get so outraged over something like this! What constitutional rights has JP Bardwell denied these people? He said he wouldn't give them a licence because of something he believes in, he did NOT tell them that they could'nt get  a license from someone else. So if its a contitutional right to get married, why do you have to get a license? It seems to me that if something is a "right", then why would you need someones permission?? Just like Marjorie Esman has the "right" to pitch a fit over this, JP Bardwell has a right to his beliefs as well. The couple just needs to go to someone else, get their license and get on with their life.

  • Avatar for smokinsinger
    High + − !
    smokinsinger at Oct 17th 2009 6:43 AM

    Everyone put on your "Big People Panties" and SHUT UP!!!!!!!

  • Avatar for Stephanie
    Low + − !
    Stephanie at Oct 17th 2009 3:21 PM

    I think that this gentleman should be forced to resign. How can he make "his" beliefs the law??? Everyone should be treated equally and just because he doesn't agree with interracial marriage, doesn't mean he has the right to deny them a marriage license. IT is discrimination!!!! He doesn't have to perform the ceremony, but he could issue the license. As for the "children" of these interracial couples, they are treated differently because of small minded individuals like this Justice of the Peace. Everyone is interracial... There is noone in this world that is a "pure" race.. God bless all you idiots!!!

  • Avatar for Bobby
    High + − !
    Bobby at Oct 17th 2009 4:04 PM

    I were a JP it would be up to me if I chose to perform the ceremony not you of anyone else! I guess in this world 300 years from now everyone will be brown in color? I surprised that people can?t find someone of there on race to marry in this world. Idiocracy!!! I support the JP 100%

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