In wake of court ruling, judge executive says he’ll no longer wed couples

By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio

Tuesday, June 30, 2015, 10:30 am. — In the wake of Friday’s Supreme Court ruling on same-sex marriage, Nelson County Judge Executive Dean Watts said he will no longer perform marriages.

His decision wasn’t a snap judgment, but one that he’s spent time considering

NELSON COUNTY JUDGE EXECUTIVE DEAN WATTS

“I’ve thought long and hard about this,” Watts said. “I’ve thought for a long time this was probably coming. Whether you agree or disagree, I thought the Supreme Court was going to make this decision. I’m not going to condone nor condemn the way of life they’re promoting.”

Watts has been performing marriages since he began serving as judge executive. Rather than continue his practice of conducting civil marriages — and deciding which he would perform and which he would not — he said he felt it best to stop performing the ceremonies.

Watts said he performed his last wedding ceremony on Saturday night.

State statutes do not require judge executives or other elected officials to conduct marriages, only that they have the right to solemnize marriages if they wish to do so, he said.

Watts is not the only Kentucky judge executive to decide to no longer perform civil unions. On Monday, Jackson County Judge Executive Shane Gabbard also announced he would no longer perform weddings. Gabbard’s announcement received statewide publicity, and Lexington area media outlets’ social media pages exploded with calls for Gabbard’s removal from office.

Watts said Tuesday he had not discussed his decision with the magistrates, nor had he heard if any of them will discontinue marrying people. “Several of them probably already have marriages booked, and I expect they’ll fulfill those commitments,” he said.

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