Judge won't recuse himself from Arkansas judge's lawsuit

[TexasTowelie]

LITTLE ROCK — A federal judge is refusing to recuse himself from a lawsuit filed by a former colleague against Arkansas Supreme Court justices who disqualified him from death row cases.

Pulaski County Circuit Judge Wendell Griffen asked U.S. District Court Judge James Moody Jr. to step aside from the case. Moody refused on Thursday, saying he was confident he could live up to his judicial oath "to fairly and impartially preside over cases," the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reported.

Griffen's lawsuit accuses the seven justices of violating state and federal laws by disqualifying him in April from presiding over cases involving the death penalty or Arkansas' lethal-injection protocol.

The disqualification came days after Griffen, also a Baptist minister, attended a prayer vigil outside the governor's mansion to oppose executions. Earlier that day, he blocked the use of an execution drug, halting the state's efforts to begin a series of executions.

Read more: http://www.couriernews.com/view/full_story/27532217/article-Judge-won-t-recuse-himself-from-Arkansas-judge-s-lawsuit?

[bobbieinok]

1. William Lindsey, a theologian in Little Rock, reported on Griffen's disqualification at 'bilgrimage'

Lindsey was raised in Arkansas, where his family was a member of the So Baptist church. He later converted to Catholicism and studied, taught, and published theology.

He was black-balled from teaching at Catholic institutions because he is gay.

He and his decades-long partner, also a theology professor, were married by Griffen when gay marriage became legal in Arkansas.

Some of the animosity against Griffen may be because he is black. His opposition to the death penalty and his very personal support of gay marriage may also be factors. It is Arkansas, after all.

[withoutapaddle]

2. Thanks for the info

black, gay, or catholic...take your pick. A lot of people here are so full of hate. I'm losing hope in this state.


I haven't kept up with this story, but thanks for sharing.

[bobbieinok]

3. Griffen is black. He is a Baptist minister who married Lindsey and his husband

At bilgrimage there are pictures of the ceremony and celebration. Marriage took place shortly after gay marriage became legal in Arkansas. There were also pictures at the blog slacktivist at patheos. The 2 are blog friends.

Lindsey and his husband have left the Catholic church.