A panel says ethics charges will proceed against a Kentucky judge who declared his conscientious objection to handling adoption cases involving gay and lesbian adults, despite his resignation last week.
The state Judicial Conduct Commission announced Monday (10/30) that a hearing for Judge W. Mitchell Nance is scheduled for December 15, a day before his resignation takes effect. The 66 year-old Nance has presided over family court cases in Barren and Metcalfe counties in rural south-central Kentucky.
The commission said Nance’s April order, which he said was motivated by religious convictions, violated several ethics provisions. That included a rule barring judges from showing bias based on sexual orientation. Several civil rights groups had filed a complaint against Nance.
Nance’s attorneys argued for charges to be dismissed after he resigned.
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