A central New York native decide is dealing with calls to resign after she allegedly refused to officiate a same-sex marriage final month.
Syracuse Metropolis Courtroom Choose Felicia Pitts-Davis refused to marry a lesbian couple final month in accordance with reporting by Syracuse.com, doubtlessly violating guidelines for New York judges and state legislation.
“If a decide can’t comply with the legislation and do her job as directed by the New York state structure and the USA Supreme Courtroom, she ought to step down,” state Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Brad Hoylman-Sigal informed The Submit Wednesday.
“I discover it appalling that somebody who professes to work on behalf of the general public takes a piecemeal strategy to their accountability,” Hoylman-Sigal, who’s homosexual, informed The Submit.
Syracuse Metropolis Auditor Alex Marion stated members of the group “deserve higher” regardless their sexual orientation.
“I consider it’s simply and applicable for Choose Pitts-Davis to step down so all of the individuals of our group might be assured they obtain equal therapy underneath the legislation,” Marion, who can be homosexual, stated in an announcement. “If she doesn’t, the Workplace of Courtroom Administration ought to promptly droop her from the bench.”
In response to Syracuse.com’s reporting, Shawntay Davis and Niccora Davis went to the Syracuse Courthouse to be married on Nov. 16. They watched Pitts-Davis marry a heterosexual couple, however when it was their flip, the decide disappeared.
A unique decide later married the couple.
A spokesperson for the state courtroom system stated the allegations have been delivered to their consideration and the matter is being referred to the State Fee on Judicial Conduct.
“Discrimination of any variety shouldn’t be tolerated by the UCS,” the Workplace of Courtroom Administration spokesperson wrote in an announcement.
“Beneath New York Legislation, Judges are licensed, however not obligated, to carry out marriages. Judges who select to carry out marriages might not unlawfully discriminate when deciding which {couples} they may marry,” the spokesperson continued.
A voicemail left at Pitts-Davis’ chambers was not returned Wednesday.
Pitts-Davis has a spotty monitor document within the Salt Metropolis.
In 2011, she was fired by then-Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner from her job main a civilian evaluation board tasked with investigating allegations of police misconduct after it was revealed that she ignored subpoenas to testify on circumstances and largely ignored the work her workplace was supposed to hold out.
In 2022, the decide’s husband, Alfonso Davis, was caught attempting to move via safety on the Rochester Airport with a loaded gun hidden in an arm sling. He had beforehand run for Syracuse mayor.
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