Texas Judge Wins $640,000 After Refusing to Perform Same-Sex Weddings
A Travis County district court ruled on June 23 that Texas's State Commission on Judicial Conduct has no authority to investigate or discipline McLennan County Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley for declining to officiate same-sex weddings because of her Christian beliefs, even though she continues to perform weddings for opposite-sex couples. The court awarded Hensley $640,000, covering $10,000 in damages and $630,000 in attorney's fees.
The ruling followed a January decision from the Texas Supreme Court in a separate case, which found the Commission has no authority under state law to discipline judges who decline same-sex ceremonies for religious or moral reasons. Hensley had been publicly warned by the Commission in 2019 for the same conduct.
