Wyoming Judge Who Refused to Perform Same-Sex Marriage Reprimanded in Court
- Updated Mar 08, 2017
A municipal judge in a small town in Wyoming has been reprimanded by the state’s Supreme Court for refusing to perform same-sex marriages.
FoxNews.com reports that Judge Ruth Neely refused to perform same-sex marriages on the basis of her religious beliefs.
In a 3-2 decision, the Court ruled that Neely violated judicial conduct code, but that she wouldn’t have to be removed from the bench.
"Judge Neely shall either perform no marriage ceremonies or she shall perform marriage ceremonies regardless of the couple's sexual orientation," wrote Justice Kate Fox in the ruling.
Neely has actually never been asked to perform a same-sex marriage in the 2,000-person town of Pinedale, Wyoming, or in the broader Sublette County, but her primary responsibilities as a judge have been to perform marriage ceremonies.
Justice Fox added that Neely’s case is not about same-sex marriage or religious objection.
“This case is also not about imposing a religious test on judges," wrote Fox. “Rather, it is about maintaining the public's faith in an independent and impartial judiciary that conducts its judicial functions according to the rule of law, independent of outside influences, including religion, and without regard to whether a law is popular or unpopular."
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: March 8, 2017
