Louisiana Justice of the Peace Denies Marriage License to Interracial Couple
A Tangipahoa Parish Justice of the Peace Would Not Give an Interracial Couple a Marriage License
Beth Humphrey and Terence McKay just wanted to get married, and they went to a justice of the peace in their hometown of Hammon, Louisiana in order to gain a marriage license. The couple sought to contact Keith Bardwell, a justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, and were told by his wife that he would not sign a marriage license for an interracial couple. The news had to be a huge setback for this couple, and equally disheartening that something like this could still keep them from becoming legally married. According to Bardwell, he won't support interracial marriages because he doesn't feel that black or white society will accept the children of the couple once they are born.
Now this isn't just a local issue, because Keith Bardwell works for the state of Louisiana as a justice of the peace. The Louisiana Supreme Court oversees the justices of the peace in the state, and has the ability to remove him from his office if they deem this to be something outside the bounds of his duties. It's astonishing that Bardwell thinks that he is doing the right thing by refusing to issue the marriage license in the state, and that he feels he is acting in the best interest of the couple. Well the couple that is being discriminated against here certainly doesn't agree with his opinion on the matter.
This case isn't going to just end with a news story about what is taking place in Louisiana, and this could really blow up in the face of this justice of the peace if he doesn't get his act together. He is certainly not following the creed that everyone should be treated equally, but is rather deciding what is best for the people who are trying to get married within the state. Hopefully something is done on a state level to let this couple know that they are well within their rights to get married, and Bardwell needs to be issuing a public apology in this case, or just lose his job if he is refusing to follow the law.
Source: AP Wire News
Published by Ryan Christopher DeVault
Born in Seattle, Washington, I am a 31 year old college graduate working in the field of Education and Research. I am also a professional freelance writer and news content provider. I can be reached at... View profile
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21 Comments
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I was saddened, hurt and above all, 'embarrassed' by Justice Bardwell's understanding of what is acceptable and unacceptable. Never the less, I think I can understand what helped to put his thinking so far out of the ball park. As well, I fully understand that there's going to be those out there who strongly disagree with what I'm about to say.
I think Justice Bardwell and I were raised to feel secure in the notion that we were 'good people'; free of any racial prejudice what so ever. In Bardwell's case the proof is shown in his totally unapologetic reasoning concerning interracial marriage, set side by side with his bold proclamation, "I have piles and piles of black friends." (Associated Press quote)
I suspect that Bardwell like myself, was raised by parents who said one thing (all races are equal) and clearly exhibited another (not one real friend or acquaintance of another race to be seen). In other words, instructed in a ver
I'm sorry, but this JOP is aware that you dont have to be married to have children right? He doesnt want them to marry because noone will accept their children...come on sir, first of all you are not the aforemost authority on who or what society as a whole will or will not accept. Secondly bi-racial children are the most beautiful people God created, just look around, look in the mirror, when you find a pure race human, you let me know! Until then may God have mercy on your soul sir, you are gonna need it.
This guy thinks his actions are based on Moral issues......well I guess he is obviously not smart enough to know that judges and even justices of the peace are not elected to make moral judgements but rather are elected to perform LEGAL duties and it is none of his business what the moral issue is....simple as that! If you listen to this guy talk it is obvious he is an ignorant goober! He should be fired and prosecuted!!!
No, first it was blacks could not marry. Judgey boy is following some old pre-electricity law.
Dude somenone should slap you for blogging that BS
Ignorant. That is what this man is. And he is discriminating cause he hasn't done this with mexican/white or Native American/white, Asian/white ect. Just goes to show you that the people in this world are stupid especially those in a high power job and continue to get "stupider" each and every day..
I am a 34 year old Black American and have been with my White wife since I was 16 years of age. We have 3 beautiful kids and are all accepted into society. This is a ridiculous reason to not grant a marriage license. Whether you agree with or disagree with, YOU MUST FOLLOW THE LAW. In 1963 it was ruled you cannot deny a marriage of a woman and man, for any reason as long as it did not break the law such as bigamy. I disagree with 55 MPH on the interstate, but I must still follow the law. He MUST be removed as the JOP period. I hate that we are actually having this discussion in the day in age, especially since the President of the United States is a byproduct of an interracial marriage. This sucks people. It really does.
If we insist that the government has the power to grant permission to marry, then we must concede that it has the power to deny it for any reason. To eliminate the power to deny, we must eliminate the power to grant. This couple had to pay $35 to exercise a natural right. Remember that the next time you breathe.
First, gays & lesbians can't marry.
Now, mixed races can't marry.
Oh yeah, we're really progressing, here in the USA.
If this JOP is appointed, he needs to be removed. If he is elected, the people need to petition to have him removed. Ridiculous that this kind of thinking is still prevalent...