Texas judges will no longer face penalties if they opt out of performing same-sex marriages if the practice violates their religious beliefs, the state’s highest court ruled.

The Texas Supreme Court added a comment to the state’s judicial conduct code declaring that judges who “publicly refrain from performing a wedding ceremony based upon a sincerely held religious belief” are not in violation of the state’s rules on judicial impartiality. 

Recommended Stories

Supreme Court still trusted to make the right ruling despite contentious cases, poll shows

A threat to one person’s freedom of speech is a threat to all freedom of speech

Floral artist has good reason to head back to Supreme Court