KY Family Court Judge Will No Longer Hear Adoption Cases Involving “Homosexual Parties”

Kentucky family court judge, Judge W. Mitchell Nance, announced he will no longer hear adoption cases involving “homosexual parties” because he believes allowing a gays to adopt a child could never be in its best interest.

Judge Nance said in an order this week that he would recuse himself from all adoptions involving gay people. This announcement came after he began court, as he does each day, by requiring everyone to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

Nance cited a judicial ethics rule that says a judge must disqualify himself when he has a personal bias or prejudice. He said in the order issued Thursday that “as a matter of conscience” he believes that “under no circumstance” would “the best interest of the child be promoted by the adoption by a practicing homosexual.” Kentucky state law allows gay couples to adopt, and the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that all states must permit same-sex marriage. h/t 13nownews

Gay-rights advocates said they are appalled by Nance’s order.

Nance couldn’t be immediately reached for comment because he was on the bench.