Judges in Texas can, tragically, now refuse to hold same-sex weddings, the state’s Supreme Court has ruled. A judgement from the state’s top court will allow judges to refuse to perform marriages based on “sincerely held religious beliefs.” Signed on Friday (24 October), Supreme Court justices argued in a ruling opinion that refusing to perform certain marriages is not a violation of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct – a set of ethical standards that Texas judges must adhere to. McLennan County judge, Dianne Hensley, sued the state after she was publicly sanctioned for refusing to perform same-sex weddings over what she described as a “Bible-believing” conscience. The county justice of the peace argued in legal filings that the State Commission on Judicial Conduct violated her religious rights with its decision to publicly warn her over her actions. The Supreme Court’s decision amended Canon 4 of the Judicial Code, which outlines impartiality rules for Texas judges. #Texas #marr...