Interracial couple denied marriage license in La.

[L.A. BRONCOS FAN]

Wow!

This Keith Bardwell sounds like the kind of guy Broncofan7 would like to have a beer with...

By MARY FOSTER, Associated Press Writer Mary Foster, Associated Press Writer – Fri Oct 16, 4:50 am ET

NEW ORLEANS – A white 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.

"I'm not a racist. (Ha ha ha! :laugh:) I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday. "I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else."

Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple. If they are, he does not marry them, he said.

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.

"There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said. "I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it."

If he did an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.

"I try to treat everyone equally," he said.

Bardwell estimates that he has refused to marry about four couples during his career, all in the past 2 1/2 years.

Beth Humphrey, 30, and 32-year-old Terence McKay, both of Hammond, say they will consult the U.S. Justice Department about filing a discrimination complaint.

Humphrey, an account manager for a marketing firm, said she and McKay, a welder, just returned to Louisiana. She is white and he is black. She plans to enroll in the University of New Orleans to pursue a masters degree in minority politics.

"That was one thing that made this so unbelievable," she said. "It's not something you expect in this day and age."

Humphrey said 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. Bardwell suggested the couple go to another justice of the peace in the parish who agreed to marry them.

"We are looking forward to having children," Humphrey said. "And all our friends and co-workers have been very supportive. Except for this, we're typical happy newlyweds."

"It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009," said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzmann. She said the Supreme Court ruled in 1967 "that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry."

The ACLU sent a letter to the Louisiana Judiciary Committee, which oversees the state justices of the peace, asking them to investigate Bardwell and recommending "the most severe sanctions available, because such blatant bigotry poses a substantial threat of serious harm to the administration of justice."

"He knew he was breaking the law, but continued to do it," Schwartzmann 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.

"I've been a justice of the peace for 34 years and I don't think I've mistreated anybody," Bardwell said. "I've made some mistakes, but you have too. I didn't tell this couple they couldn't get married. I just told them I wouldn't do it."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091016/ap_on_re_us/us_interracial_rebuff

[spdirty]

unbelievable. Hope this clown loses his job soon so he can return to the swamps with his "piles and piles" of black friends. What a jerkoff.

[Dukes]

That's BS. Someone like that should be nowhere near the justice system.

[Garcia Bronco]

This is exactly why Government shouldn't be involved in marriage to begin with.

[broncofan7]

Wow!

This Keith Bardwell sounds like the kind of guy Broncofan7 would like to have a beer with...

By MARY FOSTER, Associated Press Writer Mary Foster, Associated Press Writer – Fri Oct 16, 4:50 am ET

NEW ORLEANS – A white 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.

"I'm not a racist. (Ha ha ha! :laugh:) I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday. "I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else."

Bardwell said he asks everyone who calls about marriage if they are a mixed race couple. If they are, he does not marry them, he said.

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.

"There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said. "I think those children suffer and I won't help put them through it."

If he did an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.

"I try to treat everyone equally," he said.

Bardwell estimates that he has refused to marry about four couples during his career, all in the past 2 1/2 years.

Beth Humphrey, 30, and 32-year-old Terence McKay, both of Hammond, say they will consult the U.S. Justice Department about filing a discrimination complaint.

Humphrey, an account manager for a marketing firm, said she and McKay, a welder, just returned to Louisiana. She is white and he is black. She plans to enroll in the University of New Orleans to pursue a masters degree in minority politics.

"That was one thing that made this so unbelievable," she said. "It's not something you expect in this day and age."

Humphrey said 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. Bardwell suggested the couple go to another justice of the peace in the parish who agreed to marry them.

"We are looking forward to having children," Humphrey said. "And all our friends and co-workers have been very supportive. Except for this, we're typical happy newlyweds."

"It is really astonishing and disappointing to see this come up in 2009," said American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana attorney Katie Schwartzmann. She said the Supreme Court ruled in 1967 "that the government cannot tell people who they can and cannot marry."

The ACLU sent a letter to the Louisiana Judiciary Committee, which oversees the state justices of the peace, asking them to investigate Bardwell and recommending "the most severe sanctions available, because such blatant bigotry poses a substantial threat of serious harm to the administration of justice."

"He knew he was breaking the law, but continued to do it," Schwartzmann 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.

"I've been a justice of the peace for 34 years and I don't think I've mistreated anybody," Bardwell said. "I've made some mistakes, but you have too. I didn't tell this couple they couldn't get married. I just told them I wouldn't do it."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091016/ap_on_re_us/us_interracial_rebuff

FAIL.

http://www.orangemane.com/BB/showpost.php?p=2600828&postcount=31


Quote:
Originally Posted by atomicbloke View Post
Will this new country continue to ban interracial marriages?

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091015/...rracial_rebuff


BF7:That is DISGRACEFUL. Whenever someone puts their personal beliefs ahead of their professional duties that person needs to be removed for that position....Isn't this 2009? Good grief.

[SJ Bronco]

This is exactly why Government shouldn't be involved in marriage to begin with.

Agreed ( the part about government not being involved in marriage) but this is just an example of one misguided individual more than anything.

[c_lazy_r]

This is exactly why Government shouldn't be involved in marriage to begin with.


Among a few hundred other things they shouldn't be involved in.

[Tombstone RJ]

This is exactly why Government shouldn't be involved in marriage to begin with.

Right!

Let the locals take care of this. This is not, I repeat NOT a federal problem.

[kappys]

This is exactly why Government shouldn't be involved in marriage to begin with.

I agree that Government shouldn't be involved - however this is not the reason. This guy is just an asshat and denying a marraige license to interracial couples is simply unconscionable.

[Tombstone RJ]

If this judge has support from minority communities (especially the African American community) and from the white community then really, this is not a big deal.

I know many liberals find this kind of judge to be offensive and I understand why. However, my contention is that if this judge has support from his constituancy, and the community in which he holds his position is not bothered by his refusal to grant marriage licenses to mixed couples, then really this is a non-issue.

[kappys]

If this judge has support from minority communities (especially the African American community) and from the white community then really, this is not a big deal.

I know many liberals find this kind of judge to be offensive and I understand why. However, my contention is that if this judge has support from his constituancy, and the community in which he holds his position is not bothered by his refusal to grant marriage licenses to mixed couples, then really this is a non-issue.

I disagree. This is why we have laws in this country which forbid discrimination. If two groups are OK discriminating against a third that doesn't make it right.

The right question is does this judge have support from interracial couples in his community not to provide them with marriage licenses? My guess would be no.

Also I thought you conservative types got up in arms about "Activist judges." This is an "activist" if I've ever seen one. Its not up to him to decide which laws to arbitrarily not follow.

[barryr]

This is why homosexuals want their marriages legal so if a pastor they pick to perform their marriage refuses, they can file a lawsuit. I'm not siding with the pastor in this case, but good grief, pick a different pastor then. A real hard solution there.

[kappys]

This is why homosexuals want their marriages legal so if a pastor they pick to perform their marriage refuses, they can file a lawsuit. I'm not siding with the pastor in this case, but good grief, pick a different pastor then. A real hard solution there.

This is not about a pastor, this is about a judge who is elected to hold up the law. Pastors are not elected and are not public officials. They are free to act as they choose.

[Tombstone RJ]

I disagree. This is why we have laws in this country which forbid discrimination. If two groups are OK discriminating against a third that doesn't make it right.

The right question is does this judge have support from interracial couples in his community not to provide them with marriage licenses? My guess would be no.

Also I thought you conservative types got up in arms about "Activist judges." This is an "activist" if I've ever seen one. Its not up to him to decide which laws to arbitrarily not follow.

I see your point.

However, your saying that mixed couples wanting to be married are a "race." They aren't a race in and of themselves. A mixed couple has two people from two different races. For hypothetical argurment, lets say this mixed couple is a white guy and a black girl.

This hypothetical couple is not a separate race. If the white guy's community has no problem with this judge and the black lady's community has no problem with the judge, then there is no issue with those two racial communities. The problem rests with the couple wanting to get married. So, this couple now has several options, lets count a few, shall we?:

1. Get married at church
2. Get married by a different judge
3. GO TO VEGAS BABY!
4. Don't get married and just live in sin (I kid, I kid).

Listen, there's lots of opportunities for said couple to get married. Let's not pretend this one judge is gonna screw their plans up if they really want to be togther.

[BABronco]

This is exactly why Government shouldn't be involved in marriage to begin with.

exactly

[Fedaykin]

If this judge has support from minority communities (especially the African American community) and from the white community then really, this is not a big deal.

I know many liberals find this kind of judge to be offensive and I understand why. However, my contention is that if this judge has support from his constituancy, and the community in which he holds his position is not bothered by his refusal to grant marriage licenses to mixed couples, then really this is a non-issue.


You should familiarize yourself with the 14th amendment.

[Tombstone RJ]

You should familiarize yourself with the 14th amendment.

You talking about this?:

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitu tion

Section 1 is talking about state laws. It's not talking about some judge in BFE who doesn't want to acknowledge interracial marriages.

It's situations like these that DON'T need to be determined by the Feds. Again, if said hypothetical couple has a problem with this judge, then they have lots of options.

[Rohirrim]

Maybe he was just afraid the kids would come out with spots?

[BroncoInferno]

You talking about this?:

Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourteenth_Amendment_to_the_United_States_Constitu tion

Section 1 is talking about state laws. It's not talking about some judge in BFE who doesn't want to acknowledge interracial marriages.

It's situations like these that DON'T need to be determined by the Feds. Again, if said hypothetical couple has a problem with this judge, then they have lots of options.

Sure, this couple could get married elsewhere, but why should they have to? You may not think it's a big deal, but it may be to them if they want to get married before friends and family at their cherished local church, for instance.

Let me ask you this: if a judge denied you and your wife (if you have one) a marriage license for friviilous reasons, would your attitude be a shrug of the shoulders? You'd just not give a **** and pack up for Vegas? Come on now, try a little empathy.

[Tombstone RJ]

Sure, this couple could get married elsewhere, but why should they have to? You may not think it's a big deal, but it may be to them if they want to get married before friends and family at their cherished local church, for instance.

Let me ask you this: if a judge denied you and your wife (if you have one) a marriage license for friviilous reasons, would your attitude be a shrug of the shoulders? You'd just not give a **** and pack up for Vegas? Come on now, try a little empathy.

Again, this couple does not have to use this judge. I'm willing to guess the can cross a county line and find another judge willing to perform the ceremony IF THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT AT A LOCAL CHURCH.

A church is not the problem, it's just one judge that is the problem.

If this was me and my fiance, we would be getting married at Church anyway, so it's a non-issue.

If hypothetically speaking I was gonna marry a girl of a different race and we went to this judge and he said "No." then I might lodge a compaint against said judge with the local city/county administration. I'd then ask for another judge to come in and perform said ceremony if I and my fiance were too much of a wimpy couple to just go across a county line to another judge.

I mean really, if we wanted to make a big stink about it, I guess we could. However, it'd probably be a lot easier to just move on to another judge or do it at a church or do it at some other private ceremoney.

No need to get the friggen ACLU invovled.

[SJ Bronco]

Again, this couple does not have to use this judge. I'm willing to guess the can cross a county line and find another judge willing to perform the ceremony IF THEY DON'T WANT TO DO IT AT A LOCAL CHURCH.

A church is not the problem, it's just one judge that is the problem.

If this was me and my fiance, we would be getting married at Church anyway, so it's a non-issue.

If hypothetically speaking I was gonna marry a girl of a different race and we went to this judge and he said "No." then I might lodge a compaint against said judge with the local city/county administration. I'd then ask for another judge to come in and perform said ceremony if I and my fiance were too much of a wimpy couple to just go across a county line to another judge.

I mean really, if we wanted to make a big stink about it, I guess we could. However, it'd probably be a lot easier to just move on to another judge or do it at a church or do it at some other private ceremoney.

No need to get the friggen ACLU invovled.

License...not wedding...they wanted a license. a pastor can't give you a marriage license...and as a child of a mixed race couple, who has a mixed race child of my own.....all races are unnecessary cultural lines that we define ourselves and it makes me sad...like I said to a friend of mine...this guy refused to give these people a license because he considers people like me troubled, or undesirable. I find him offensive and he shouldn't hold any public office. I understand that you could drive to the next county, and get a license...but it seems wrong that they have to. That's like saying, "whites only" bathroom. Sure, blacks can go take a shyt elsewhere, but they shouldn't have to.

[Tombstone RJ]

License...not wedding...they wanted a license. a pastor can't give you a marriage license...and as a child of a mixed race couple, who has a mixed race child of my own.....all races are unnecessary cultural lines that we define ourselves and it makes me sad...like I said to a friend of mine...this guy refused to give these people a license because he considers people like me troubled, or undesirable. I find him offensive and he shouldn't hold any public office. I understand that you could drive to the next county, and get a license...but it seems wrong that they have to. That's like saying, "whites only" bathroom. Sure, blacks can go take a shyt elsewhere, but they shouldn't have to.

I see your point.

[spdirty]

License...not wedding...they wanted a license. a pastor can't give you a marriage license...and as a child of a mixed race couple, who has a mixed race child of my own.....all races are unnecessary cultural lines that we define ourselves and it makes me sad...like I said to a friend of mine...this guy refused to give these people a license because he considers people like me troubled, or undesirable. I find him offensive and he shouldn't hold any public office. I understand that you could drive to the next county, and get a license...but it seems wrong that they have to. That's like saying, "whites only" bathroom. Sure, blacks can go take a shyt elsewhere, but they shouldn't have to.

very good point.