Louisiana Judge Denies Marriage to Interracial Couple

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 4:54pm

So, you thought the whole interracial marriage issue was resolved and in the past... not so in Louisiana.

"Louisiana justice of the peace said he refused to issue a marriage license to an interracial couple out of concern for any children the couple might have.

Keith Bardwell, justice of the peace in Tangipahoa Parish, says it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long.
...
Bardwell said he has discussed the topic with blacks and whites, along with witnessing some interracial marriages. He came to the conclusion that most of black society does not readily accept offspring of such relationships, and neither does white society, he said.

"I don't do interracial marriages because I don't want to put children in a situation they didn't bring on themselves," Bardwell said. "In my heart, I feel the children will later suffer."

If he does an interracial marriage for one couple, he must do the same for all, he said.

"I try to treat everyone equally," he said."

Ummmm - the fact that he does not realize that by not marrying an interracial couple specifically means that he is not treating everyone equally is just astounding. I hope this guy gets kicked off the court.

And, I guess that the whole fact that Obama is a bi-racial is also lost on him. Louisiana is certainly amazing.




Interracial Couple Denied Marriage License By Louisiana Judge

[tazber]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 4:58pm

Whoa, did I just step into a time warp?

Can a judge even do this?

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 5:02pm

Well isn't that special...

[I<3bway]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 5:04pm

As long as they don't plan on appearing on Wife Swap and have a weather balloon in their backyard, they should do just fine with their kids.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 5:21pm

LOL, I<3!

But seriously how can he get away with that?

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 5:52pm

So they're not even letting straight people get married, now?

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:01pm

I would imagine that it is grounds to have him removed from the court. The ACLU is petitioning the Louisiana Supreme Court to have the matter addressed, and seeking his removal.

I am not sure if he is an elected or appointed judge, not that it should matter for judicial misconduct.

[nealb1]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:08pm

How is this any of his business?

[nmartin]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:10pm

I know where this place is. Amite, Louisiana, Tangipahoa Parish. All those south Louisiana towns are garden spots of joy.

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:10pm

Justices of the peace are usually elected (at least they are in Texas; I'm pretty sure they are in Louisiana too).

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:22pm

This is ridiculous. I think they really should file a lawsuit.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:26pm

Methinks he had one too many mint juleps leading to his brain becoming pickled.

[tazber]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:27pm

I can't get over this quote:

"I'm not a racist. I just don't believe in mixing the races that way," Bardwell told the Associated Press on Thursday. "I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else."

He let's them use his bathroom! You'd think all the public facilities are still segregated in his town the way he mentions that with such pride.
Seriously, how do these pockets of ass-backwards hicks still exist in 2009?

Updated On: 10/15/09 at 06:27 PM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:33pm

They use his bathroom? That's right big of him, now ain't it?

[StockardFan]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:37pm

Oh dear God.

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 6:44pm

Sorry, "piles and piles of black friends" makes it sound like he has bodies in his closet, or something. They come to his home, he marries them, they use his bathroom, then they're never seen again.

I wouldn't put it past a Louisiana hick.
Updated On: 10/15/09 at 06:44 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 9:23pm

it is his experience that most interracial marriages do not last long
Does this mean we can start denying marriage licenses to men over 50 marrying women under 25?

[BroadwayBound92]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 10:23pm

I felt like I've gone back in time.This dude is either a racist in denial or he lied to the Associated Press. Maybe a bit of both.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 10/15/09 at 11:28pm

Sorry but this seems the only appropriate remark:

Mighty white of him!

[Roscoe]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 11:02am

"I have piles and piles of black friends. They come to my home, I marry them, they use my bathroom. I treat them just like everyone else."

He should be forced to produce these "piles" of black friends at a press conference, where they can vouch for how totally non-racist he is.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 11:36am

"They use my bathroom"?

[Calvin]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 11:42am

Can they use his water fountain?

[degrassifan]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 11:56am

This makes me upset. It's ridiculous this is still happening in 2009. It's just as bad as segregated proms.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 10/16/09 at 12:30pm

I'm calling Miss Jane Pittman!

[tazber]

Posted: 10/18/09 at 4:47pm

Beligerent until the end.

In a week when some major assholes made headlines this trash wins the prize for most deserving to be run over by a 18 wheeler.
But I ain't done no wrong