Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

La. Justice Quits in Interracial Wedding Flap

Officials, including Gov. Jindal, pressured Keith Bardwell

By the Associated Press

Posted Nov 3, 2009 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.
Louisiana justice of the peace Keith Bardwell.   (YouTube)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 23 comments
Fondue
Nov 4, 2009 12:56 PM CST
@jamerican, stop pretending you know how this country works.
Netstorm2k10
Nov 4, 2009 12:47 PM CST
Na.Na.Na.Na....Na.Na.Na.Na....Hey.Hey.Hey...Goodbye!
reasonator
Nov 4, 2009 12:38 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.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

More Newser Stories

Jindal Cakewalks to 2nd Term in Louisiana

Bobby Jindal Releases His Birth Certificate, Too

Big Biz Can Only Donate So Much to Bobby Jindal...

Praise the Lord and Pass the Pistols

Red Tape Stalls Oil-Sucking Barges


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne