Liberty Counsel Defends Magistrates Facing Jail

By Liberty Counsel —— Bio and Archives February 13, 2015

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Raleigh, NC - Liberty Counsel has filed suit on behalf of magistrates in North Carolina who are being pressured to officiate same-sex "weddings" or face suspension, termination, fines, or prosecution. Our clients have been forced to choose between "deprivation of constitutional rights and continued employment or freedom," Liberty Counsel told the court in the lawsuit.

"This case reveals the conflicts erupting across the United States as intolerant activists impose their will on the majority of Americans who refuse to participate in same-sex unions," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel. "The same-sex marriage agenda threatens religious liberty and freedom of conscience. Although it is full of rhetoric about tolerance and equal rights, the agenda is anything but tolerant," Staver added. "Christians and people of faith and values have been silenced through 'hate speech' laws. Now, magistrates, pastors, bakers, photographers, business owners, event planners, and others are being forced against their will to celebrate and assist in something against their deeply held religious beliefs." "While the federal court orders require that Defendants make marriage licenses and marriage ceremonies available to same-sex couples, they do not require that every magistrate in the state be compelled to perform such ceremonies under threat of suspension, termination or even criminal prosecution," Liberty Counsel's lawsuit pointed out. "Any number of accommodations can be made for magistrates who object to issuing marriage licenses for a same-sex union," Staver said. The lawsuit is requesting emergency protection from the state courts for any magistrate who refuses to issue a marriage license to a same-sex couple.