By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The Seattle Times writes the while the state’s newly amended marriage law exempts clergy from performing same-sex weddings, Thurston County Superior Court Judge Gary Tabor’s opting out from conducting gay ceremonies raises questions.
Read abut it here
Karen, valid point – “How can we feel as though he’s been impartial in his dealings?” I guess that if one was really concerned they could go through court records to see if he dealt with people unbiasedly. A job for an opponent at election time, maybe?
But really, couldn’t we do that with all judges? Find out if they treat all walks of life equally? I would think that since Judge Tabor has been in office for 17 years, the people of Thurston County feel that he has done a fair and equitable job, and he is exercising his rights to do or not to do a perk of the job.
Another article stated that he has chosen not to perform weddings in the past, so it’s not like he was always willing or available anyways.
If he was really biased against a culture or lifestyle, it would have come up before now.
Karen, your point is entirely valid…TO a point. I don’t know the context in which he was quoted as saying he wouldn’t perform gay weddings, but Tabor did put his views in public, where they’re being supported or opposed…if he’s being given a hard time for his decision, it’s because he put himself in that position. Fair enough.
However, where should the line be drawn between a person’s private perspective and whether that POV affects how they perform their jobs? What about judges whose opinions would shock you or me if they let them be known? Do we seek to overturn a previous judgment if we later learn they hold an personal opinion we consider vile? It’s hard to prove whether a jurist’s private opinion played a part in rendering any decision.
I’ve read quotes from Abraham Lincoln that showed he regarded blacks as absolutely inferior to whites, but thankfully he didn’t let his personal disdain for blacks (wonder what HE would’ve thought of interracial marriage?) prevent him from delivering the Emancipation Proclamation or pushing the 13th Amendment through Congress.
If people like Gary Tabor or Abe Lincoln (perhaps the only time they’ll ever appear side-by-side in the same sentence) are able to keep their private views separate from their public duties, there is not a problem.
I’m saying there was a time when interracial marriage was made legal, just as gay marriage. If a judge stood up and said ‘I have philosophical reasons why I won’t perform interracial marriages’, I think we’d consider his/her ability to preside over any case. The fact that a sitting judge, who may have presided or be asked to preside over gay custody hearings, or just any gay person in general, has come out and publicly said he has a problem with the legal institution of marriage for gays… How can we feel as though he’s been impartial in his dealings?
I don’t think anyone should violate their moral or religious beliefs, but he has come out, as a judge, and said he’s not ok with gay marriage. I don’t care if he does marriages or not as I agree that’s his decision, but he can’t be considered impartial in dealing with gays.
Fuck The Olympian. I have a good mind to cancel my subscription. This judge has every right to say who he does and does not want to marry and it’s really nobody’s business WHY. And, for the record, I have gay, lesbian and transgendered friends and support their rights as well. Guilty Bystander said it best.
Karen, I’m not understanding your statement. Are you saying that “interracial couples” aren’t “legal citizens of this country”? Or that somehow interracial marriages are not legal?
One article I read (that I can’t find now, of course) quoted a newly married lesbian as saying that if he won’t do it, there are plenty who will. I find it refreshing to find her so “open-minded” as to allow him the freedom to do his job as he sees fit. As was said before, he’s not REQUIRED to perform marriages. It’s a perk of the job, just like boat captains have.
The Olympian has an “opinion” article about how the judge should resign because of his religious views. Isn’t that more of an infringement of the judge’s rights? What if it was a Muslim, Hindu, Ba’a, etc. person , who became a county judge, then refused to marry people because of his religious views? If people were calling for his resignation, wouldn’t the ACLA or some group step in and protect his rights? Why is this any different?
Then ask for a change in judges if you land in Judge Tabor’s court, Karen. You have as much right to seek another jurist to hear your case as Judge Tabor has the right to decline performing marriages on his personal time.
If the judge had said ‘I won’t marry interracial couples’ the bias would be more clear. I’m uncomfortable being judged by someone who publicly announces they aren’t ok with legal citizens of this country.
Well said, GB. Good post.
When a judge performs a marriage ceremony, straight or gay, he/she is doing it on their off-work hours at their own discretion because it is not required by law that they officiate any wedding…in other words, it’s not in their job description.
Judge Tabor is simply exercising his right of choice but because a percentage of people have a political agenda, the attention is focused on what he won’t do rather than the many other judges who’d likely be happy to perform a gay marriage ceremony.
It’s interesting how many of the same people who claim they don’t want others’ morality forced upon them are now trying to force their own morality on others. Not that there’s anything hypocritical about that.
Hey dirty cop….read a little closer…Thurston county judge….you are very hard on law enforcement…at least blame the right county.
Love Our Country.. So should Judges opt out when it comes to the New Marijuana Law. Or are they just allowed to bounce from law to law in the Lewis County Kangaroo Court System? Sworn to serve the Community and uphold the Law… The voters have spoken yet, the Judge disagrees.. Typical Lewis County, Good Ole Boy-ism.
Great point Karen! Judges are sworn to uphold the law whether they agree with the laws or not.
Can sentence people to death, but won’t marry gays?
As I support our gays lesbians bisexuals and transgenders, However I do feel that judges should be able to opt out without backlash for it. It wasn’t an easy thing to pass into the law books and not everyone morally or religious reasons can support it and I do not feel they or anyone for that matter should perform any kind of ceremony if they are against it weather is be for gay or straight couple.