Judge in lesbian foster-parent case steps aside from further involvement
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A Utah judge who ignited a firestorm of public criticism by setting a process in motion to remove a foster child from a same-sex couple, because they are not heterosexual, has now stepped aside from further involvement in the case.
In a Monday order, 7th District Juvenile Judge Scott Johansen said the lesbian couple don’t have standing to seek his disqualification, but voluntarily recused himself, the Salt Lake Tribune, the Washington Post and the Associated Press report.
The Human Rights Campaign, a gay and transgender rights advocacy group, filed a complaint (PDF) on Friday against Johansen with Utah’s Judicial Conduct Commission, the Salt Lake Tribune reported.
“If Johansen ordered the child be removed because of the couple’s sexual orientation, it would be a clear violation of the Utah Code of Judicial Conduct, which expressly forbids it,” the Human Rights Campaign says in a press release.
Related coverage:
ABAJournal.com: “Judge amends order that foster child be removed from married lesbian couple”
