Judge resigns and seeks dismissal of ethics charges over refusal to hear gay adoption cases
A Kentucky judge accused of ethical misconduct for refusing to hear gay adoption cases has submitted his resignation.
Judge W. Mitchell Nance of Glasgow supplied a copy of his resignation letter to ethics regulators and asked for dismissal of the ethics charges, report the Washington Post, USA Today and the Glasgow Daily Times.
Nance said his resignation will take effect Dec. 16.
Nance refused to hear gay adoptions in April when he issued an order saying he would recuse himself from any case involving a gay adoption. Nance cited his belief that such an adoption would never be in the best interest of the child.
The judicial misconduct complaint filed in September alleges Nance’s action violated canons requiring judges to promote confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary, to be faithful to the law, and to refrain from showing bias or prejudice.
