DALLAS (KRLD) - A Waco judge has filed a lawsuit after getting a public warning, for her refusal to officiate same-sex weddings.
The warning is from the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. McLennan County Justice of the peace Dianne Hensley, in turn, is suing them. She believes she shouldn't be punished for actions taken in accordance with her faith.
Hensley is represented by Jeremy Dyes with First Liberty Institute in Plano. He says Hensley created a way for gay couples to get married. "She worked out an arrangement with some local officials here, some just down the street three blocks away in a walk-in wedding chapel who were able to do that at the same exact cost and in the same time frame."
He says no one has been turned away "from being able to be married who wanted to get married. They just weren't able to compel judge Hensely to officiate those weddings."
Angela Hale with Equality Texas says that's not the point, "this is the 21st century and discrimination is unacceptable. It's a waste of taxpayer money and it's a violation of her oath." She notes same-sex marriage became the law of the land in June of 2015.
"She is violating the constitution to serve every single Texan. Every Texan deserves to be treated with dignity and respect and she should be following the law."
Hensley's suit cites the Religious Freedom Act and seeks to protect all judges who don't wish to perform same-sex weddings.