Gay Man Refuses Jury Duty Because County Clerk Refuses To Perform Marriages

[KamaAina]

http://www.thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/davidbadash/gay_man_refuses_jury_duty_because_county_clerk_refuses_to_perform_marriages

Chuck Chapman this morning reported for jury duty at the Duval County courthouse in Jacksonville, Florida, with one goal: to make a statement about same-sex marriage. Even though same-sex couples may now legally marry in Florida, the Duval County clerk has stopped performing all marriages.

Chapman says he "regrets" that Duval County Clerk of Courts Ronnie Fussell does not feel "comfortable marrying same-sex individuals or anyone in the courthouse." He adds that "if they feel uncomfortable marrying same-sex people then I feel uncomfortable going in the courthouse."...

"Ronnie Fussell is an elected official in this town. It's government for the people, by the people. I'm a citizen, a vote. I pay my taxes. Just because it's across the board, his decision not to do it any longer, has me willing to make this statement," he said.

"I'm a taxpayer in this community. I'm a citizen in this community. My rights should be across the board just like anybody else has and anybody else wants and anybody else needs. It's my rights as a citizen in Duval County and the state of Florida," Chapman added.

[randys1]

1. Oh god, you have to love it....

[shenmue]

2. Hee hee!

[Rex]

3. I think he has a very good point. Bravo!

Ronnie needs to find another job if he cannot perform his duties as required by law.

[lpbk2713]

4. I don't get it.

How can a public servant refuse to perform a public service on the grounds of a privately held belief? He can think however he chooses AFAIC but he has an obligation to do his job for the people who pay him, the taxpayers.

[edhopper]

7. There would only be

Repercussions if the Rethugs who run the State didn't support him.

[Pacifist Patriot]

18. It's a little more nuanced....very slightly.

The county is not refusing to issue same gender marriage licenses. Nor are they preventing same gender couples from having weddings in Duval county.

What they are doing is negatively impacting all people to coddle the religious sentiments of a few county employees by no longer offering the service of solemnizing marriage. Any marriage.

Before marriage equality became legal on January 06, a couple could get a marriage license at the courthouse and have a Clerk of Court perform a short civil ceremony. It's that ceremony part that is no longer being done at the courthouse. They are forcing all couples to get their own officiant and have a non-courthouse ceremony.

The verbal gymnastics they've engaged in to justify the decision is ludicrous. I think one person claimed they needed the room where they usually perform the ceremonies for other purposes. Right.

They are not required by law to offer the service of courthouse ceremonies, so that's how they've gotten around it. "Sure, here's your license. Bring it back when you're done and we'll record it."

[NV Whino]

5. Good for him!

[joeybee12]

6. Absolutely correct

KNR

[Dustlawyer]

8. Just wait until the whole wedding industry goes after that ignorant clerk, photographers, DJ's,

bakeries, tuxcedo rentals, and bridal shops will have his selfish, lonely, asshole's head on a platter!

[A Simple Game]

29. County clerk weddings probably aren't too lavish to start with.

I doubt if it affects any of the people you mentioned. May even help them in the long run.

[riderinthestorm]

9. K fucking R!!! Love this nt

[irisblue]

10. i am blessed to have been born in the United States, you have to treat me as a citizen in everything

or you cannot expect me to act as a citizen in everything. '' chuck chapman" you get ALL of duties of a citizen or you should not get all the citizenship duties.

[Takket]

11. if the clerk doesn't have to do his job, why should Chapman?

Great protest!

[closeupready]

20. Yep. There we go.

+1000.

[blkmusclmachine]

12. Seems only fair and right. Good for him.

[nilram]

13. Awesome. I'm so willing to contribute to his

legal expenses, should it come to that.

[dembotoz]

14. i cheer and admire his stance EXCEPT

i have served on jury duty twice in my very red county.
each time the cops are perfect and if the guy was arrested he must be guilty mindset was very evident.

i have no faith in the jury system where i live.
We need folks like chuck to be on juries

[KamaAina]

17. We also need folks like Chuck to get married

[dembotoz]

22. you are 100 percent correct-just feel sorry for the folks on trial

i have learned that justice does not mean much any more

[avebury]

23. I have to admit that, if I served on a jury for a criminal

trial, I would start out on the defense's side. I would look at any evidence submitted by the Prosecution with a fine tooth comb. I am not saying that I would be a slam dunk for a defendant but that I would be willing to give him/her a fair hearing.

[niyad]

15. k and r + a gazillion.

if a person cannot be afforded all privileges of citizenship, then said person should not have to perform any of its obligations, either.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

16. Good for him - great statement n/t

[Pacifist Patriot]

19. Excellent!

[Aldo Leopold]

21. Great point.

And elegantly made.

[MADem]

24. Z...I...N...G!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Direct HIT!!! Bravo!!!!!

You be mean to me? I'll be mean to YOU!


Love it. If "Ronnie" can't do his job he needs to be let go and replaced with someone who can.

[SusanCalvin]

25. Sounds reasonable to me. nt

[RKP5637]

26. Excellent!!! n/t

[JustAnotherGen]

27. He's awesome!

[KamaAina]

28. Hell, I'd marry him

and I'm hetero!

[blkmusclmachine]

30. UPDATE: Texas Supreme Court: No More Marriages!!

http://joemygod.blogspot.com/2015/02/texas-supreme-court-no-more-marriages.html#disqus_thread