Texas Judge Awarded Damages for Refusal to Officiate Same-Sex Wedding

A Texas magistrate judge has been granted over $640,000 in damages after facing disciplinary actions for declining to officiate a same-sex wedding due to his religious beliefs.

“This is a significant win for people of faith. It’s vital for individuals to be able to step back from activities that conflict with their beliefs,” remarked Hiram Sasser, general counsel for First Liberty Institute, in a conversation with Fox News Digital on Tuesday.

Recently, First Liberty Institute revealed that Judge Diane Hensley will receive $10,000 in damages, following a court determination that his rights to religious freedom under Texas law were infringed upon.

The Travis County District Court also mandated the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to reimburse approximately $630,000 in attorney fees accrued by Hensley, who is represented by First Liberty Institute and attorney Jonathan F. Mitchell.

“One noteworthy aspect of Judge Hensley’s approach is her ability to express, ‘I can officiate some weddings, but not all,’ while still being a considerate neighbor. She even had a referral system ready for those in need of officiants,” Sasser noted.

According to First Liberty magazine, Hensley faced discipline after she opted not to officiate a same-sex wedding due to her Christian beliefs. Sasser mentioned that Hensley created a referral system, allowing couples to find other officiants without incurring additional costs or delays.

Sasser indicated that Hensley first encountered backlash from the state Judicial Conduct Commission back in 2018.

“They warned her that if she continued to perform any weddings without doing a same-sex one, they would escalate the situation,” he explained. “It started with a warning, and that’s what spurred us to fight for her right to serve the public effectively.”

Additionally, Sasser commented on recent amendments from the Texas Supreme Court, which now permit religious accommodations. He expressed hope that upcoming reforms in the commission’s makeup will prevent similar issues from arising again.

“All I ever wanted was to serve my community and honor my vows of faith,” Hensley shared in a statement. “I’m thankful that after eight prolonged years, the law has been set, and religious freedom has been reinstated in our land.”

The state Commission on Judicial Conduct opted not to comment.