New York judge refuses to marry same-sex couple 'because of her religious beliefs'

[cbabe]

https://www.alternet.org/judge-same-couple/

New York judge refuses to marry same-sex couple 'because of her religious beliefs': report

Carl GibsonDecember 04, 2024

A civil judge in Syracuse, New York recently refused to officiate a wedding between two women, in an apparent violation of anti-discrimination laws.

That's according to a Wednesday article in the Syracuse Post-Standard, which reported that Judge Felicia Pitts Davis walked out of her chambers on November 16 as soon as a same-sex couple walked in. The couple — 33 year-old Shawntay Davis and 29 year-old Niccora Davis — were left alone in the chambers until another city court judge, Mary Anne Doherty, came in and officiated their wedding.

…

Pitts Davis had officiated a wedding of a heterosexual couple just prior to the Davises, and reportedly even cried during the ceremony. The Post-Standard cited two unnamed sources who said Pitts Davis told Doherty that she didn't want to marry the two women due to her "religious beliefs."

…

Syracuse city court spokesperson Al Baker told the paper that the court was "aware of the allegation and have referred the matter to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct." Pitts Davis was elected to her 10-year term in 2020, in the wake of the Black Lives Matter uprising that swept the nation after former Minneapolis Police Department officer Derek Chauvin murdered George Floyd. She told the paper at the time that she recalled watching her mother work until she was almost 90 years old, and grew uo hearing stories about racial discrimination and lynchings.

"As a Black woman, what I’ve always been taught – what I’ve fought for – has relied on the protections of the Constitution, and I had to learn how to make those real," she said.

… more …

[Dennis Donovan]

1. WSYR: Group calls for resignation of Syracuse judge accused of not performing same-sex wedding

WSYR - Group calls for resignation of Syracuse judge accused of not performing same-sex wedding

by: Andrew Donovan
Posted: Dec 5, 2024 / 09:23 AM EST
Updated: Dec 5, 2024 / 09:23 AM EST



SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV) — A local advocacy group representing the LGBTQ+ community is calling on Syracuse City Court Judge Felicia Pitts Davis to resign over accusations she refused to perform a same-sex wedding ceremony.

/snip/

CNY Pride wrote: “Judge Pitts Davis’s refusal to marry same-sex citizens of Syracuse and Onondaga County is despicable and contrary to her judicial oath. Judges are expected to faithfully uphold and apply the law without bias, and to demonstrate the highest level of integrity, honor, and ethics. By refusing to marry same-sex couples, Judge Pitts Davis falls far short of these expectations. Her conduct is a disgrace to the position she was elected to perform.”

When reached by phone Wednesday night, Dec. 4, Pitts Davis told NewsChannel 9 she had “no comment.”

/snip

Good, she should resign if she cannot keep her bigotry under control.

[patphil]

2. If she's unwilling to do her job, she should resign.

I would question her impartiality in cases with one or more homosexual parties that she presides over.

[Irish_Dem]

3. Her religion prevents her from doing the job she is paid to do.

Time to find other employment.

[keithbvadu2]

4. Will she marry divorced people? Jesus had some very strong beliefs about divorce.

The sanctity of Holy matrimony for conservative Christians - Kim Davis

Jesus was quite vocal about divorce/remarriage and the possible resultant sin of adultery.

[IbogaProject]

5. Angling for a Federal nomination?

Timing seems weird.