absolutely 100% yes. It doesnt matter if he doesnt agree with it....he has to uphold the law. Period. He should be disbarred. AND made to write an apology letter.
This JP is breaking the law. That is the law the JP swore to uphold not break. Private feeling can't come into play when one is sworn to uphold the law.
Absolutely! There's a definite civil rights case here, and I hope the couple and the community will pursue it. There's not much left for us if we allow narrow-minded, prejudiced people have the authority to act on their bigotry!
Yes! Ideally, justices should never make a decision based on personal opinion. It should always be based on the constitutionality of the question. So, he is a disgrace to his profession as well as operating outside of the boundaries of the law.
Just saw a trailer for the 10 p.m. local news (WAPT-Channel 16 in Jackson, MS) on this story; apparently a news crew managed to get an interview with him and the station here is going to air it.
Yes. Gov. Jindal is still dealing with the post-Katrina mess. Are you certain that a governor can fire a judge? I see allot of 'mixed' marriages here in New Orleans. There are plenty of J.P.s here who have no problem with any couple who want to give marriage a try. Gov. Jindal is much better than that idiot Blanco ... who mishandled the road home money. Now THAT was an embarrassment.
No don 't change the subject, it is an embarrassment, plain and simply. Now say it with me I am embarrassed and the Gov. Jindal should do something like dismiss this goon. It not that hard. Now ex-Gov. Blanco is another issue and yes it is an embarrassment, but this about some yahoo who is responsible to adminster fairly to all equal treatment under the law, not his personal opinion, if he can do his job then fire the bastard. Gov. Jindal has enough time remove this blight from services of the state of Lousianna. Really it's not that hard TICA M. unless it is not a problem with you.
I am under the impression that judges must be impeached and go through due process to be removed. It is quite silly to make Governor Jindal responsible for the eccentric and idiotic behavior of one, lunatic JP. Would you be this vitriolic if the judge were a democrat?
Yes I would, the Gov. with a pen, suspend, remove anyone he pleases for just cause and process any investigation he required. And vitriolic is over the top, don't you think, however this is the year 2009. But then again maybe not its a cause of alarm for you. I understand your point of view but political parties have very little to do with it. But to deny a person his or her rights to fair treatment, don't you think it an issue that should be deal with swiftly. Shame and or embarrassment occurs all the time and in every walk of life and every corner in the world. However, if it happens, accept it as a fact and make a change. He, the JOP needs to be dismissed, now, then move on. Othewise, take no weight upon your shoulders, Louisanna as it is for all parts of this counrty, has good and the bad, no one has a pass on that.
I didn't hear anything about it. Can't believe in this day and age that anyone would do that. That anyone would even care. Must be a pea brain. Me and Bettie wanted to stop by and say hi :) Hi.
I do not know. What was the oath this judge took when he became a JP? How long has he been a JP and has he always married people this way? I am just saying, if he has always married people this way, why now, is he being repremanded for this "offensive" action? How old is this JP?
The judge's age has nothing to do with the matter. The US Constitution and our laws still mean something in this country. We have judges to defend our legal system. They don't decide when the law applies and when the law does not. This judge has no business sitting on the bench.
And, TICA,
We blame George Bush for what he did to the country. During the Bush years, there was plenty of support for bigots who operated outside the boundaries of the law and decency. We are hoping that the Obama years will not be a repeat of that subtle acceptance of bigotry and mean-spirited behaviors.
I fail to see any relevance in your questions especially since he has said "It is just the way I feel" and his age is of what relationship to the issue?
"How old is this JP?" Old enough to know better. I think many racists have felt that they can flex their racist muscle quite a bit more since Obama won the election--weird yet, there is so much more racist talk in the air.
Justices of the Peace in Louisiana are elected to serve six-year terms. They can perform marriage ceremonies. As the judicial authority of a ward or district, they have jurisdiction in civil matters when the amount in dispute does not exceed $5,000.
I have spent many vacations in New Orleans, TICA. I love the people of that city. But, I am not a fool. The people of Louisiana are much more tolerant of negativity toward blacks than we are in Chicago.
Joe T. Your perspective of Louisiana people is limited to a tourist's view point, and if I may, northern prejudice towards southerners. While African-Americans may be a minority group nationally, they are the majority in New Orleans. I have been on the butt end of unprovoked racism while working in the Quarter. Most of the time there is no malicious intent ... and sometimes it is even funny. One morning I was setting up my display of paintings on the fence. A rather tipsy black man approached me and cheerfully said, "Hey, you that white woman that was drinkin' wid me on da bench over der?" "No, not me. It must have been someone else." "Yeah, you is dat woman, I know you." "Sorry friend, not me." "Yes you is." "Your wrong, I don't drink. My husband is a diabetic, so we don’t drink anymore. Sorry, wrong woman." "You is dat woman." The happy little drunk slurred yet again. "You wrong, but what can I say ... all white people look alike." At that point, the man became agitated and said, "No, no, that is what you all say about us." But he did quit accusing me of being his drinking buddy. See, it is not precisely racism in the most negative and clichéd way ... but there is still, some friction between the races here. Sometimes this is even provoked by blacks towards whites. I am frankly sick of the overuse of the term RACISM as it hides deeper and more important issues. The man who mistook me for one of his drinking buddies was far more injured by addiction than by the subtleties of interracial conflict. The fact that he habitually drinks with a white woman who resembles me put a lie to the cliché that blacks and whites in the south cannot peacefully coexist or marry eachother if they so choose.
TICA, you sound like me when I get so mad I can't see reason through the red fog--
The anglo side of my family hails from LA, so I hardly would think I was lumping all peoples in with the likes of that moron.
I'm not quite sure what you were trying to convey in the gratuitous use of "ebonics". I saw no humor there.
And, as a Texas-raised black woman, I can attest to Joe's view of the south as correct. The bias there would flabbergast anyone who changed races overnight and tried to live in that skin.
Lastly-- Until you brought it up, I've never heard of a "cliché" in the south regarding interracial couples, unless you're speaking of the Lovings.
It isn't Ebonics ... the man was too drunk to speak coherently. I wrote an accurate description of what he said. Would you have been more impressed if I had translated it into scholar speak? That is just another colloquialism (with a little undeserved arrogance attached). I see more harmony than animosity on the street, here in the French Quarter. I am more comfortable chatting with black artists than I am chatting with white drunks. We have an abundance of both here. Why must we categorize ourselves in terms of ethnic accidents? I'm white ... so what? You are whatever you choose to identify yourself as. Again ... so what? If we are EVER going to get past this idiotic paradigm of seeing color before character ... we have to stop already with identifying race first whenever we meet. It is soooooo skin deep ... superficial. It is my hope that someday ethnic characteristics become irrelevant in human relationships. Isn't THAT why the behavior of this JP is so repulsive to all of us?
All petty points aside, I envy you your life in LA. Been there only twice, loved it each time.
One of these days I will visit the ancestral home of my grandad. They sound snooty, but perhaps they've mellowed out since they disinherited him for marrying a black woman.
I think that the man you are talking about was probably just lonely and was clumsily trying to get a little needed attention. Personally, I believe that one of the hugest problems is that we are "raced" at all. But, we do have to understand the history of racism in this country. And, racism is about favoritism in our culture toward whites. It isn't about what blacks or whites say to each other. It is about a system that educates and provides opportunities for whites while blacks are often an afterthought. It is better today than it has been in the past. It is because our country decided by law (the Civil Rights Act of 1964) to make an effort to right these past wrongs. It isn't necessarily because hearts and minds changed in America. Many have changed, but many have not. The favoritism towards whites is still quite pervasive.
Blacks can be prejudiced toward and even discriminate against whites. It would be a serious error of understanding, however, to accuse blacks of being racist. Racism is about a social arrangement. Blacks do not have enough power to be racist. It is that simple. Are there blacks who don't respect or acknowledge whites? Absolutely! Are there blacks who if given the chance would take advantage of vulnerable whites? Absolutely. But, whites can be racist because of a system that affords whites opportunities that blacks do not enjoy. One of the problems that I have in Louisiana, is that the people are quite backward about the seriousness of the matter. They seem to think it is about emotions or friendship. It is more about economic advantage and opportunity. In Chicago, we have a better understanding of that because this city is a working city with working class people. I don't blame New Orleanians for this. There are many reasons (political and social) for this lack of understanding.
He should be dismissed, federally prosecuted for a Civil Rights violation, then flogged publicly.
Where is the Republican hierarchy on this issue? Where is Bobby (the exorcist) Jindal? He should step up. This would be an embarassment for the state of Louisiana, if the state of Louisiana wasn't already an embarassment anyway.
Please provide details below to help Gather review this content. If it is found to be inappropriate and in violation of the Gather Terms of Service, action will be taken.
Please select the part of the post you are reporting.
Please select why you are reporting this content.
Please enter a description.
You have successfully submitted a report for this post.
recommend this
email
print
link to this page
Comments: 83
:)
:)
:)
I see allot of 'mixed' marriages here in New Orleans. There are plenty of J.P.s here who have no problem with any couple who want to give marriage a try.
Gov. Jindal is much better than that idiot Blanco ... who mishandled the road home money. Now THAT was an embarrassment.
Would you be this vitriolic if the judge were a democrat?
I understand your point of view but political parties have very little to do with it. But to deny a person his or her rights to fair treatment, don't you think it an issue that should be deal with swiftly.
Shame and or embarrassment occurs all the time and in every walk of life and every corner in the world. However, if it happens, accept it as a fact and make a change. He, the JOP needs to be dismissed, now, then move on. Othewise, take no weight upon your shoulders, Louisanna as it is for all parts of this counrty, has good and the bad, no one has a pass on that.
What does a person's political affiliation have to do with whether or not he should lose his job over a biased attitude?
Usually, one's chosen political affiliation comes out of the beliefs he or she shares with the current outlook of the party.
Me and Bettie wanted to stop by and say hi :) Hi.
:)
I know I wouldn't have bothered complaining during Bush's reigning years...
The judge's age has nothing to do with the matter. The US Constitution and our laws still mean something in this country. We have judges to defend our legal system. They don't decide when the law applies and when the law does not. This judge has no business sitting on the bench.
And, TICA,
We blame George Bush for what he did to the country. During the Bush years, there was plenty of support for bigots who operated outside the boundaries of the law and decency. We are hoping that the Obama years will not be a repeat of that subtle acceptance of bigotry and mean-spirited behaviors.
I fail to see any relevance in your questions especially since he has said "It is just the way I feel" and his age is of what relationship to the issue?
"How old is this JP?" Old enough to know better. I think many racists have felt that they can flex their racist muscle quite a bit more since Obama won the election--weird yet, there is so much more racist talk in the air.
You cannot selectively enforce the law according to the race of the people involved.
Miserable little Louisianan cockroach...
One morning I was setting up my display of paintings on the fence. A rather tipsy black man approached me and cheerfully said, "Hey, you that white woman that was drinkin' wid me on da bench over der?"
"No, not me. It must have been someone else."
"Yeah, you is dat woman, I know you."
"Sorry friend, not me."
"Yes you is."
"Your wrong, I don't drink. My husband is a diabetic, so we don’t drink anymore. Sorry, wrong woman."
"You is dat woman." The happy little drunk slurred yet again.
"You wrong, but what can I say ... all white people look alike."
At that point, the man became agitated and said, "No, no, that is what you all say about us." But he did quit accusing me of being his drinking buddy.
See, it is not precisely racism in the most negative and clichéd way ... but there is still, some friction between the races here. Sometimes this is even provoked by blacks towards whites.
I am frankly sick of the overuse of the term RACISM as it hides deeper and more important issues. The man who mistook me for one of his drinking buddies was far more injured by addiction than by the subtleties of interracial conflict. The fact that he habitually drinks with a white woman who resembles me put a lie to the cliché that blacks and whites in the south cannot peacefully coexist or marry eachother if they so choose.
The anglo side of my family hails from LA, so I hardly would think I was lumping all peoples in with the likes of that moron.
I'm not quite sure what you were trying to convey in the gratuitous use of "ebonics". I saw no humor there.
And, as a Texas-raised black woman, I can attest to Joe's view of the south as correct. The bias there would flabbergast anyone who changed races overnight and tried to live in that skin.
Lastly-- Until you brought it up, I've never heard of a "cliché" in the south regarding interracial couples, unless you're speaking of the Lovings.
I see more harmony than animosity on the street, here in the French Quarter. I am more comfortable chatting with black artists than I am chatting with white drunks. We have an abundance of both here. Why must we categorize ourselves in terms of ethnic accidents? I'm white ... so what? You are whatever you choose to identify yourself as. Again ... so what? If we are EVER going to get past this idiotic paradigm of seeing color before character ... we have to stop already with identifying race first whenever we meet. It is soooooo skin deep ... superficial.
It is my hope that someday ethnic characteristics become irrelevant in human relationships. Isn't THAT why the behavior of this JP is so repulsive to all of us?
One of these days I will visit the ancestral home of my grandad. They sound snooty, but perhaps they've mellowed out since they disinherited him for marrying a black woman.
Blacks can be prejudiced toward and even discriminate against whites. It would be a serious error of understanding, however, to accuse blacks of being racist. Racism is about a social arrangement. Blacks do not have enough power to be racist. It is that simple. Are there blacks who don't respect or acknowledge whites? Absolutely! Are there blacks who if given the chance would take advantage of vulnerable whites? Absolutely. But, whites can be racist because of a system that affords whites opportunities that blacks do not enjoy. One of the problems that I have in Louisiana, is that the people are quite backward about the seriousness of the matter. They seem to think it is about emotions or friendship. It is more about economic advantage and opportunity. In Chicago, we have a better understanding of that because this city is a working city with working class people. I don't blame New Orleanians for this. There are many reasons (political and social) for this lack of understanding.
:)
for you
not the issue
of course the guy is a world class schmuck
and should be removed
:)
This situation is so irritating!
Where is the Republican hierarchy on this issue? Where is Bobby (the exorcist) Jindal?
He should step up. This would be an embarassment for the state of Louisiana, if the state of Louisiana wasn't already an embarassment anyway.
:)
I agree with you