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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009

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Texas Accidentally Bans Straight Marriage

Law designed to forbid gay civil unions actually bars any unions

Nov 19, 09 7:28 AM CST
plus hate

Jon and Kate Finalize
Details of Split

She gets primary custody; he doesn't object

Nov 22, 09 3:27 PM CST
Amanda Knox:
Murder Charges
'Pure Fantasy'

Prosecutors ask for life sentence; defense prepares final arguments

Nov 21, 09 1:05 PM CST
who let the paranoids out?

46 Years After Kennedy, the Virus of Hate Is Back

Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert panders to dangerous paranoids

Nov 21, 09 9:08 AM CST
Judge Orders
Hasan Held 'Til
Court Martial

Ft. Hood suspect likely to move from hospital to jail

Nov 22, 09 6:34 AM CST
Shaniya Raped, Killed on Day of Abduction: Cops

NC 5-year-old was asphyxiated, arrest warrant says

Nov 20, 09 5:04 PM CST
BIG BROTHER

Cops Use Facebook to Bust Underage Drinkers

Phony 'friend' gains access to drinking photos

Nov 19, 09 6:19 PM CST
Pub's Bad Service Leads
to Arrest—of Irate Patrons

No skipping gratuity, restaurant says

Nov 20, 09 11:14 AM CST
Peru Gang Accused
of Killing to Harvest Fat

Cosmetics firms said to pay $60K/gallon; experts skeptical

Nov 19, 09 10:00 PM CST
Mother of Slain
5-Year-Old
Is Pregnant

Antoinette Davis is accused of selling her daughter as a sex slave

Nov 17, 09 5:13 PM CST
CASEY ANTHONY TRIAL

Defense Accuses Man Who Found Caylee's Body

Cops have already cleared utility worker

Nov 20, 09 12:12 PM CST
kercher murder trial

Knox Acted Out of
'Hatred': Prosecutor

Closing argument speaks of 'crescendo of violence'

Nov 20, 09 2:57 PM CST
Jackson Sex Accuser's Dad Commits Suicide

Jordy Chandler's father found dead in NJ home

Nov 18, 09 2:32 AM CST

|NEXT STORY »

La. Justice Quits in Interracial Wedding Flap

Officials, including Gov. Jindal, pressured Keith Bardwell

Posted Nov 3, 09 6:19 PM CST|

(AP) – A Louisiana justice of the peace who refused to marry a couple because the bride was white and groom was black resigned today, after weeks of refusing to step down despite calls for his ouster. Keith Bardwell quit with no explanation of his decision; Gov. Bobby Jindal called it "long overdue."

Bardwell, who is white, refused to marry Beth Humphrey and Terence McKay. When questioned, Bardwell acknowledged he routinely avoids marrying interracial couples because he believes children born to them end up suffering. "There is a problem with both groups accepting a child from such a marriage," Bardwell said in October. "I think those children suffer, and I won't help put them through it."

Louisiana justice of the peace Keith Bardwell. (YouTube)

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27 comments

VIEWING:

Enoughie
Nov 3, 09 6:22 PM CST

Justice got served... Reply

+10

IN RESPONSE:

Reader64481089
Nov 3, 09 8:24 PM CST

Not really, he still has the same mind set as do the people who voteded him in as a Justice of the Peace, it is a local election and he reflects well the demographic of the people he served. Now he will simply retire out as a local hero and when things calm down will most likely have his job back if he wants it. He can still legally may people even after he quit as a JP and little has changed, it is indeed a hollow victory at best as he remains an ignorant bigot as always.

| 0 minutes ago

reasonator
Nov 3, 09 6:22 PM CST

Those children suffer because of people like you, ex-judge. Reply

+12

IN RESPONSE:

jamerican
Nov 3, 09 6:29 PM CST

It's a free country and he should be allowed to follow his convictions and if he did not want the children to suffer from a mixed couple it was his right to follow his beliefs.

-24

IN RESPONSE:

reasonator
Nov 3, 09 6:37 PM CST

No, actually he has to uphold the law. He has the right to FEEL that way, but he does not have the right to break the law, because he's a JUDGE.

+20

IN RESPONSE:

reasonator
Nov 3, 09 6:38 PM CST

And guess what, he still has the right to feel the same way about the issue, but he has to step down as a justice, which he did. And it was overdue.

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Nov 3, 09 6:56 PM CST

@jamerican, stop pretending you know how this country works.

IN RESPONSE:

DarkFrancis
Nov 3, 09 9:55 PM CST

Jammy, you need your head read.

| 0 minutes ago

tomodachi
Nov 3, 09 6:24 PM CST

sometimes i think the world would be a much better place when we're all intermixed enough... to all be the shame shade of beige. I suppose some people would simply find something else to segregate people over. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Doctor_Zaius
Nov 3, 09 6:28 PM CST

Look at the Shi'ites and the Sunni. Look at the Catholics and Protestants in Northern Ireland. Look at the Crips and the Bloods. If you found all the redheaded left-handed hockey players in the world and put them on an island the first thing they would do is split up into two groups and proclaim their hatred for the opposite group.

IN RESPONSE:

reasonator
Nov 3, 09 6:29 PM CST

F--- that. I don't want to be mixed together, I want to be Asian, preferably Japanese. They are the prettiest.

-8

IN RESPONSE:

tomodachi
Nov 3, 09 7:40 PM CST

"I'm quite happy to say... That the Sneetches got really quite smart on that day, The day they decided that Sneetches are Sneetches And no kind of Sneetch is the best on the beaches. That day, all the Sneetches forgot about stars And whether they had one, or not, upon thars." ~Theodor Geisel~ It's a nice thought anyhow...

| 0 minutes ago

Jayster999
Nov 3, 09 6:26 PM CST

I kind of doubt he's an actual racist. It's more likely that he's an anachronism--and something of a dim bulb. Reply

-7

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Nov 4, 09 9:48 AM CST

@jay - he's a racist.

| 0 minutes ago

Netstorm2k9
Nov 3, 09 6:47 PM CST

Na.Na.Na.Na....Na.Na.Na.Na....Hey.Hey.Hey...Goodbye! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

shopgirl1623
Nov 3, 09 7:11 PM CST

I'm glad he stepped down. Racism is an ugly thing no matter which way you look at it. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

ezrider
Nov 3, 09 7:23 PM CST

jamerican ,jamerican where didst thou loose it,their was a senator from the south (now decease) he also had his convictions, he was one of a well known group of racists.after his death guess what,the nation got news of 60 year old biracial daughter of his.BUT HE HAD HIS CONVICTIONS TOO Reply

| 0 minutes ago

dangerousdan
Nov 3, 09 7:30 PM CST

This comment has been removed by Newser’s community. You must be logged in to view this comment. Reply

-11

IN RESPONSE:

Rocket448
Nov 3, 09 7:37 PM CST

Don't feed this troll.

IN RESPONSE:

cochiserocks
Nov 3, 09 7:45 PM CST

There is no way you have the intelligence to plug in a computer, surf the web, join Newser, string a sentence together, type it here - and actually believe that crap you wrote. If so, the only danger you are Dan is to yourself because you' can only be a confused bitter old man stuck somewhere in the past. Come out of the dark place Dan, come join us in 2009 - It's great - we got TV, movies, micorwaves even a democratic system and universal suffrage (look it up on something called "Google" - you'll be amazed!) Meantime - just so you know, that big yellow thing in the sky is the sun and the reason why you feel so alone is because you're a throwback to a time thankfully long passed. Come on Dan, step off the porch, join the party - I promise you it's a lot more fun than dying alone as a twisted, bigoted, ignorant racist freak!

IN RESPONSE:

Netstorm2k9
Nov 4, 09 1:45 AM CST

@ cochiserocks: lmao, clapping. Well done!

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Nov 4, 09 10:04 AM CST

@dangerous - that you are, with your warped and antiquated thinking. people "back then" did NOT have brains just blind hatred. and you would suggest we go back to those dark and bloody times when white robed, uneducated and ignorant whites hid behind their silly costumes (and still do for that matter) in order to justify their violent and murderous attacks on people with a different color of skin? troll, go back under your bridge.

| 0 minutes ago

calkino
Nov 3, 09 8:09 PM CST

i know he's an idiot, and he's probably a racist, but he is only a justice of the peace and not a formally educated legal mind. further, it's my understanding that justices of the peace like this are appointed by the residents of the town in which he resides. as is too often the case, once the national media gets wind of the situation, it's blown out of proportion. the original story i read about this mentioned that there were two other justices that married interracial couples in that area. leave the guy alone. Reply

-4

IN RESPONSE:

Toon
Nov 3, 09 10:50 PM CST

Why leave this guy alone while he remained in office? Are you saying that those who hold governmental offices should be allowed to use public office to push private agendas? Shouldn't public servants be held to a certain ethical standard or at least expected to serve all citizens equally and obey the letter and the spirit of the law? This guy is once again a private citizen and freer to do as he likes and the office is now open to be filled by some one who can act impartially. You say 'he's only a justice of the peace' as if good government is only necessary at the top levels of government.

IN RESPONSE:

bewilderbeast
Nov 4, 09 8:56 AM CST

calkino, what IS it that makes people say such stupid things!?! "once the media gets wind of the situation, it's blown out of proportion"! Hello-o!!! Something happens. The media reports it. The rest is in your tiny mind. Why do people say this stupid mantra when something is reported that THEY are uncomfortable with and wish had remained hush-hush gets reported (as it should be). Freedom of speech MUST remain. The media MUST report on EVERYTHING. And you, dear calkino, should think about exercising your right NOT to "left click" every so often.

IN RESPONSE:

schmidtkoff
Nov 4, 09 10:07 AM CST

no @cal - he needed to be held accountable for his racist and incredibly stupid comments such as trying to placate the firestorm of criticism by saying he had a lot of black friends over to his house and he even let them use his bathroom. which seemed to be a way for him to absolve himself from the days when bathrooms and water fountains were clearly labeled ‘whites’ and ‘colored’.

| 0 minutes ago

JimW
Nov 3, 09 10:13 PM CST

Just like I said would happen. Think I could pass as a prophet? ;-) Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 27 comments »

Louisiana • Bobby Jindal • interracial marriage • justice of the peace • Keith Bardwell • Beth Humphrey • Terence McKay

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La. Justice Quits in Interracial Wedding Flap

Officials, including Gov. Jindal, pressured Keith Bardwell

Jindal Slams Anti-Mixed Marriage Judge

Governor calls for firing of Louisiana justice who denied couple marriage license

MORE ABOUT:
Lousiana • Bobby Jindal • interracial marriage • justice of the peace • Keith Bardwell

Louisiana Judge Won't Marry Interracial Couple

'I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way.'

MORE ABOUT:
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GOP Govs Back Down, Request Stimulus Funds

Ambitious conservatives cave on most federal aid dollars

MORE ABOUT:
Alaska • South Carolina • Louisiana • Bobby Jindal • economic stimulus package • Sarah Palin • Office of Management and Budget • Mark Sanford

Louisiana • Bobby Jindal • interracial marriage • justice of the peace • Keith Bardwell • Beth Humphrey • Terence McKay

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La. Justice Quits in Interracial Wedding Flap

Officials, including Gov. Jindal, pressured Keith Bardwell

Related Newser Stories

Jindal Slams Anti-Mixed Marriage Judge

Governor calls for firing of Louisiana justice who denied couple marriage license

MORE ABOUT: Lousiana • Bobby Jindal • interracial marriage • justice of the peace • Keith Bardwell

Louisiana Judge Won't Marry Interracial Couple

'I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way.'

MORE ABOUT: ACLU • Louisiana • interracial marriage • justice of the peace • Keith Bardwell

GOP Govs Back Down, Request Stimulus Funds

Ambitious conservatives cave on most federal aid dollars

MORE ABOUT: Alaska • South Carolina • Louisiana • Bobby Jindal • economic stimulus package • Sarah Palin • Office of Management and Budget • Mark Sanford

Louisiana • Bobby Jindal • interracial marriage • justice of the peace • Keith Bardwell • Beth Humphrey • Terence McKay

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Lousiana • Bobby Jindal • interracial marriage • justice of the peace • Keith Bardwell

MORE ABOUT:
ACLU • Louisiana • interracial marriage • justice of the peace • Keith Bardwell

MORE ABOUT:
Alaska • South Carolina • Louisiana • Bobby Jindal • economic stimulus package • Sarah Palin • Office of Management and Budget • Mark Sanford