http://www.myfoxal.com/story/28027027/chilton-county-probate-judge-no-longer-performing-marriage-ceremonies?clienttype=generic&mobilecgbypass

Chilton County Probate Judge Bobby Martin will no longer perform marriage ceremonies at the county courthouse.

The judge said he typically performs about 16 marriage ceremonies a month.

When asked about the reason for the change, Martin said he isn't required to perform the ceremonies and as of Tuesday he "just stopped having ceremonies in the courthouse."

However, he told the Clanton Advertiser "I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman, and because of that, I will not perform a ceremony for a couple that doesn't fit in that criteria."

Martin wouldn't confirm to WSFA 12 News if the decision was related to the recent federal ruling that struck down the ban on same-sex marriage in Alabama. A hold on the ruling is set to expire Monday unless the U.S. Supreme Court approves Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange's motion for a stay.

Martin said he will issue marriage licenses to any couple who comes in starting Monday.

The current marriage license form includes spaces to enter information for the "bride" and "groom." Martin said he's expecting to get a new marriage license form from the Alabama Department of Public Health sometime Friday, but it will take some time to enter the new form into the computer system. He said the new form might not be in the system Monday if they don't get it until late Friday.

I guess they were right - gay marriage IS destroying traditional marriage.

How misleading.

One judge isn't performing marriage ceremonies because of his personal beliefs. Not to mention, he isn't even required to perform such ceremonies during his responsibilities as a judge.

Quote from: Meta Cognition on February 06, 2015, 10:15:12 AM

How misleading.

One judge isn't performing marriage ceremonies because of his personal beliefs.

...which shouldn't be an option. If he's uncomfortable with being a public servant, he shouldn't be in the position.

Hence the very next sentence:

Not to mention, he isn't even required to perform such ceremonies during his responsibilities as a judge.

Yes, I read your whole post. It doesn't change my opinion at all.

I'm criticising the fact that your title makes it seem as if the Alabama Legislature rose up in some homophobic wave to ban all marriage just to spite gays. No, it's one judge operating on the basis of his own values, as we all do, and choosing to cut off a voluntary service. It really doesn't hurt anybody; there's quite a clear difference between not giving a service and then imposing something on somebody. Are his values, in some way, wrong? Yes, I believe so. Is this a cunt move? Yes, I believe that too.

But for all I know he's a damn good judge and I'm not going to bash him as some homophobic Christfag on the basis of him not doing something he isn't even obligated to do. And I'm especially not going to phrase my objection to it in such a way as to implicate the rest of the Alabaman government.

I don't really understand why anyone should be forced to perform a ceremony that they disagree with.

If he only wants to marry straight people, what's the problem?

The problem arises when performing that ceremony is part of their job description. In this case it isn't, so there should be no problem.

Individuals within it cannot pick and choose which laws or rights they want to uphold.

They can when it isn't actually their job to uphold a certain right.

The government literally does not have the capacity to do what you're saying, because the Constitution forbids it.

The government is a collection of different individuals in different institutions which form an aggregate.

Some bureaucrat on the Council of Economic Advisers is not obligated to marry two gays if that's hypothetically the only way to exercise that specific right. There's a reason we have different positions within the government, and you can't take about it as a single monolithic entity with a united agency.

Any agent of the government, up to and including the president, is individually obligated to uphold the Constitution.

This is just patently ridiculous.

Talking about the jurisdiction of the government as a whole doesn't equate to an obligation on every single government employee. I mean, just think about what you're saying.

And if the Constitution does imply that, I have no qualms with calling that out for the sheer retardation that it is.

Quote from: Meta Cognition on February 06, 2015, 01:45:01 PM

Quote from: Kupo on February 06, 2015, 01:41:18 PM

Any agent of the government, up to and including the president, is individually obligated to uphold the Constitution.

This is just patently ridiculous.

Talking about the jurisdiction of the government as a whole doesn't equate to an obligation on every single government employee. I mean, just think about what you're saying.

And if the Constitution does imply that, I have no qualms with calling that out for the sheer retardation that it is.

Every government employee is bound by the oath of office they took when they were hired.

I do solemnly swear (or affirm), that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent on me, according to the best of my abilities and understanding, agreeably to the Constitution, and laws of the United States.

That proves my point...?

No, because this judge did not have the duty of performing marriage ceremonies.

That was a privilege extended by the judge. . .

That proves my point...?

It refutes it. Those ceremonies are not duties incumbent to his office.

Quote from: Kupo on February 06, 2015, 01:53:48 PM

"I'm not going to do something I have nothing to do with" is notable how...?

It isn't, that's my point.

I don't like Max jumping on this guy's dick for not doing something which isn't necessarily included in his duties as a government employee.

I agree. But at the same time, I didn't agree with PSU's broader implication of nobody being required to do it even if it's their sworn duty.

http://www.myfoxal.com/story/28027027/chilton-county-probate-judge-no-longer-performing-marriage-ceremonies?clienttype=generic&mobilecgbypass

Quote

Chilton County Probate Judge Bobby Martin will no longer perform marriage ceremonies at the county courthouse.

The judge said he typically performs about 16 marriage ceremonies a month.

When asked about the reason for the change, Martin said he isn't required to perform the ceremonies and as of Tuesday he "just stopped having ceremonies in the courthouse."

However, he told the Clanton Advertiser "I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman, and because of that, I will not perform a ceremony for a couple that doesn't fit in that criteria."

Martin wouldn't confirm to WSFA 12 News if the decision was related to the recent federal ruling that struck down the ban on same-sex marriage in Alabama. A hold on the ruling is set to expire Monday unless the U.S. Supreme Court approves Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange's motion for a stay.

Martin said he will issue marriage licenses to any couple who comes in starting Monday.

The current marriage license form includes spaces to enter information for the "bride" and "groom." Martin said he's expecting to get a new marriage license form from the Alabama Department of Public Health sometime Friday, but it will take some time to enter the new form into the computer system. He said the new form might not be in the system Monday if they don't get it until late Friday.

I guess they were right - gay marriage IS destroying traditional marriage.

I have never been vaccinated

Quote from: Mad Max on February 06, 2015, 09:54:31 AM

http://www.myfoxal.com/story/28027027/chilton-county-probate-judge-no-longer-performing-marriage-ceremonies?clienttype=generic&mobilecgbypass

Quote

Chilton County Probate Judge Bobby Martin will no longer perform marriage ceremonies at the county courthouse.

The judge said he typically performs about 16 marriage ceremonies a month.

When asked about the reason for the change, Martin said he isn't required to perform the ceremonies and as of Tuesday he "just stopped having ceremonies in the courthouse."

However, he told the Clanton Advertiser "I believe that marriage is between a man and a woman, and because of that, I will not perform a ceremony for a couple that doesn't fit in that criteria."

Martin wouldn't confirm to WSFA 12 News if the decision was related to the recent federal ruling that struck down the ban on same-sex marriage in Alabama. A hold on the ruling is set to expire Monday unless the U.S. Supreme Court approves Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange's motion for a stay.

Martin said he will issue marriage licenses to any couple who comes in starting Monday.

The current marriage license form includes spaces to enter information for the "bride" and "groom." Martin said he's expecting to get a new marriage license form from the Alabama Department of Public Health sometime Friday, but it will take some time to enter the new form into the computer system. He said the new form might not be in the system Monday if they don't get it until late Friday.

I guess they were right - gay marriage IS destroying traditional marriage.

I have never been vaccinated

That has nothing to do with this discussion.