Discussion: Michigan County Clerk Performs Marriages As County Judge Refuses

TPM Article Topics
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Discussion for article #238078

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Good for her. Definitely on the right side of history. Thank you, Ms Manary #ThankYouAnnManary

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If you read the article in the Midland paper, the judge is framing it as a cost saving measure, since they reduced the number of assigned judges from 2 to 1 and he’s limited by statute as to what can be charged to perform the ceremony. I have enormous difficulty believing that’s the real reason.

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I’m pretty sure the Federal Law as issued by the Supreme Court trumps state statutes. Time for this judge to retire or be impeached.

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I’m just shocked this is from Midland and not Holland.

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IS GAY adoPT OK yet IN MichigAN? GAys NEed a WaY TO PReserve THEir speCIEs and cANNOT do IT the CHristIAN way, PraYING for BABies, sO theY NEed TO BraINwasH YOUth to BE DeviANTs.

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I think they still have to purchase them from the gypsies that stole them from the jews that wanted to sacrifice them in unholy rituals. As is traditional.

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ThoSE craZY JEws AND thEIr BLOOD rITUALS!

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Michael Oren is going to want to have a word with you…

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Loopholes are OK if you are a Republican

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TPM:

After the district judge in Midland County, Mich., decided to stop performing any marriages in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, county clerk Ann Manary started performing the ceremonies herself.

Kudos to Ms. Manary. It’s a shameful reflection on conservative mores when the clerks are better Americans than conservative justices.

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Good for her. And that judge needs to be shown the door.

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You just do it and let him bellow in rage. Then you dare him to his face to do anything about it.

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While I agree that he should be removed, Federal Law does not dictate who in the state has authority to perform marriages. That is a matter for the state. The only issue is that once they open it up for some, they have to open it up for all. But, the state can say it is judges or not, clerks or not, etc.

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District Judge Michael Carpenter… I wonder if he realizes his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, etc., will almost certainly view him as an embarrassment, a bigot, and an all-around asshole of a human being.

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Ms Manary to Judge Carpenter:

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Here’s a photo of the judge!

http://co.midland.mi.us/Portals/0/Midland%20County/Images/Department%20Images/District%20Court/judge_carpenter.jpg

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In Michigan it is judges, magistrates, clerks, ordained ministers and mayors that can perform marriages. The issue this boneheaded fundie judge is using is that the statute says “may” as opposed to “shall”…and so long as he does no marriages, straight or gay, he ‘may’ just get away with it, for awhile anyway until he’s called out on his sudden refusal to do his job, or takes a political hit for his bullshit, which in turn will harm his re-election prospects.

He’s also using his sudden aversion to marrying people to having too much work that’s backing up other cases that ‘coincidentally’ need more of his time and attention. That’s bullshit. He seems to have a lot of excuses as to why he won’t suddenly perform marriages…I seriously doubt over time his shit will fly.

On the other hand, what couple would want to be married by this bigot now that they know what kind of jerk he is?

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I get that. We have the same rule in California - any judge (state or federal) can officiate a wedding. Even someone that has been “ordained” through the Universal Life Church by paying a buck on line can do it (I checked, it was litigated in the context of a divorce case). That being said, there is nothing in the state law here that requires a judge or anyone else that is eligible to preside over weddings. I don’t know what the rule is in Michigan, but if the statute does indeed say “may” then I think that he is correct and cannot be compelled to do it. But, if he does one couple’s wedding and not another’s, then there is a real problem. A blanket that we will not do it is probably fine as long as they have other options.

It is an entirely different matter from clerks that are required to issue licenses so long as the people getting married meet the requirements (assuming that those requirements are legal) because they are the gatekeeper to the process. I think that this is an important distinction.

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These holier-than-thou, gawwd’ fearin’ self righteous cretins like this judge are becoming more and more tiresome. They are destined to be tossed on the garbage heap of history…and good riddance to bad trash.
His ilk promotes putting a bible in every hotel room in this country; they stand on street corners holding signs and urging preparation for the End of Time; they build tax-exempt churches on any damned empty lot or in any empty building possible; they demand “God” be imprinted on all money; and they relentlessly go door to door “spreading the good word”…and on and on…ad nauseum. And then they have the fu*king gall to scream, shout and whine like titty-babies about ~gasp!~ The Gay Agenda!

When was the last time a gay person knocked at your door and ask if you’d like to hear about The Good News of Marriage Equality??

These fundie Rightie Wingnuts seem to believe, above all, that ignorance is a point of view. To hell with them.