Weather

59.0 °

Conditions : A Few Clouds

Wind : from the South at 12.7 gusting to 18.4 MPH (11 gusting to 16 KT)

Pressure : 1005.5 mb

Humidity : 83 %

More Weather

Tools

LA justice quits after interracial wed flap

By Associated Press

Story Created: Nov 3, 2009 at 4:30 PM CST

Story Updated: Nov 3, 2009 at 4:30 PM CST

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - A Louisiana justice of the peace who refused to marry a couple because the bride was white and the groom was black has resigned.

Louisiana Secretary of State's Office spokesman Jacques Berry says Keith Bardwell's resignation is effective Tuesday. Bardwell refused to perform the ceremony for Beth Humphrey and Terence McKay because they are of different races.

Bardwell has acknowledged he routinely recuses himself from marrying interracial couples because he believes such marriages cause harm to the couples' children. Another justice of the peace eventually married the couple.

Humphrey and McKay have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Bardwell.

Next article AP NewsMinute 8:56 p.m. CST - Fraud bounty hunters...Toyota recall expanded

View Oldest Comments First

Tuesday, Nov 3 at 7:56 PM Lynn wrote ...

You have a certain "class" of people that will file a lawsuit for anything. He was well within his rights for what he did.

Inappropriate? Alert Us!

Add a comment

Most Popular

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.