• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
MENUMENU
MENUMENU
  • Home
  • About
    • Contact Us
    • FlaglerLive Board of Directors
    • Comment Policy
    • Mission Statement
    • Our Values
  • Live Calendar
  • Submit Obituary
  • Submit an Event
  • Support FlaglerLive
  • Advertise on FlaglerLive (386) 503-3808
  • Search Results

FlaglerLive

No Bull, no Fluff, No Smudges

MENUMENU
  • Flagler
    • Flagler County Commission
    • Beverly Beach
    • Economic Development Council
    • Flagler History
    • Mondex/Daytona North
    • The Hammock
    • Tourist Development Council
  • Palm Coast
    • Palm Coast City Council
    • Palm Coast Crime
  • Bunnell
    • Bunnell City Commission
    • Bunnell Crime
  • Flagler Beach
    • Flagler Beach City Commission
    • Flagler Beach Crime
  • Cops/Courts
    • Circuit & County Court
    • Florida Supreme Court
    • Federal Courts
    • Flagler 911
    • Fire House
    • Flagler County Sheriff
    • Flagler Jail Bookings
    • Traffic Accidents
  • Rights & Liberties
    • Fourth Amendment
    • First Amendment
    • Privacy
    • Second Amendment
    • Seventh Amendment
    • Sixth Amendment
    • Sunshine Law
    • Third Amendment
    • Religion & Beliefs
    • Human Rights
    • Immigration
    • Labor Rights
    • 14th Amendment
    • Civil Rights
  • Schools
    • Adult Education
    • Belle Terre Elementary
    • Buddy Taylor Middle
    • Bunnell Elementary
    • Charter Schools
    • Daytona State College
    • Flagler County School Board
    • Flagler Palm Coast High School
    • Higher Education
    • Imagine School
    • Indian Trails Middle
    • Matanzas High School
    • Old Kings Elementary
    • Rymfire Elementary
    • Stetson University
    • Wadsworth Elementary
    • University of Florida/Florida State
  • Economy
    • Jobs & Unemployment
    • Business & Economy
    • Development & Sprawl
    • Leisure & Tourism
    • Local Business
    • Local Media
    • Real Estate & Development
    • Taxes
  • Commentary
    • The Conversation
    • Pierre Tristam
    • Diane Roberts
    • Guest Columns
    • Byblos
    • Editor's Blog
  • Culture
    • African American Cultural Society
    • Arts in Palm Coast & Flagler
    • Books
    • City Repertory Theatre
    • Flagler Auditorium
    • Flagler Playhouse
    • Flagler Youth Orchestra
    • Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra
    • Palm Coast Arts Foundation
    • Special Events
  • Elections 2022
    • Amendments and Referendums
    • Presidential Election
    • Campaign Finance
    • City Elections
    • Congressional
    • Constitutionals
    • Courts
    • Governor
    • Polls
    • Voting Rights
  • Florida
    • Federal Politics
    • Florida History
    • Florida Legislature
    • Florida Legislature
    • Ron DeSantis
  • Health & Society
    • Flagler County Health Department
    • Ask the Doctor Column
    • Health Care
    • Health Care Business
    • Covid-19
    • Children and Families
    • Medicaid and Medicare
    • Mental Health
    • Poverty
    • Violence
  • All Else
    • Daily Briefing
    • Americana
    • Obituaries
    • News Briefs
    • Weather and Climate
    • Wildlife

4th Judge in 3 Weeks Strikes Down Florida’s Gay-Marriage Ban

August 6, 2014 | FlaglerLive | 14 Comments

Judge Diana Lewis
Judge Diana Lewis

A Palm Beach County circuit judge ruled Tuesday that Florida’s same-sex marriage ban was unconstitutional in a probate case involving a gay couple who married in Delaware.

The decision by Palm Beach County Circuit Judge Diana Lewis was the fourth recent ruling finding that the ban on same-sex marriages is unconstitutional, though the circumstances differed from the earlier cases. Lewis’ decision stemmed from the March death in Pennsylvania of Frank C. Bangor, who owned property in Palm Beach County.

Bangor was married to W. Jason Simpson last year, and Simpson sought to qualify in Florida as personal representative of the estate. He sought to qualify as a surviving spouse. But a constitutional amendment passed by Florida voters in 2008 defined marriage as being between “only one man and one woman” and said Florida would not recognize other marriages.

Lewis sided with Simpson and found the ban unconstitutional as it applied to the case. “There is no justification in denying Mr. Simpson the privilege of acting as the fiduciary, based solely on the gender and sexual orientation of his now-deceased spouse,” Lewis wrote. “‘The Marriage Laws’ unnecessarily discriminate against this ‘spouse,’ who is recognized by other states as a ‘spouse,’ to act as a fiduciary. Clearly, it was Mr. Bangor’s intent that Mr. Simpson serve as his personal representative and inherit all of his property.”

Lewis’ decision followed other recent rulings in Monroe, Miami-Dade and Broward counties that found the same-sex marriage ban unconstitutional. The earlier cases have been stayed pending appeals.

Judge Diana Lewis Decision on Same-Sex Marriage, Palm Beach County (2014)

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Created using the Donation Thermometer plugin https://wordpress.org/plugins/donation-thermometer/.$7000Raised $5784 towards the $7000 target.$5784Raised $5784 towards the $7000 target.83%
Thank you for being among the 25,000 readers who stop by here every day: You depend on FlaglerLive for reliable, fearless reporting and analysis you cannot get anywhere else. But like freedom, serious journalism depends on its advocates to survive. That means you. That means more than thoughts and good wishes are needed. As a challenging 2024 looms, take a stand for integrity and have a direct voice in fostering serious journalism in your community. As little as $10 makes a difference, or better still, become a monthly donor: Become a Friend of FlaglerLive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit news organization. Donations are tax deductible since FlaglerLive is a 501(c)(3) non-profit news organization. Donate by clicking anywhere in this box. Think of it as buying a scoop, in every sense of the term!  
All donors' identities are kept confidential and anonymous.
   

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Wag the Tail says

    August 6, 2014 at 12:01 pm

    When can I marry my long time friend, Daisey ? Yes, she’s a DOG but I love her just the same. If males can marry other males, and females can marry other females..I should by right of my American Constitutional Freedom be able to marry my friend..Yes, she’s a DOG !!!

    Reply
    • Diana L says

      August 6, 2014 at 12:15 pm

      What does that statement prove, other than trying to be absurd?

      Reply
    • John Smallberries says

      August 7, 2014 at 10:10 am

      Hey, they said exactly the same bullshit you just did when trying to ban interracial marriage. Imagine that.

      Reply
  2. Jus Tice says

    August 6, 2014 at 1:32 pm

    It is a shame that this crooked judge has to politicize this ruling to try to get re-elected. What does this case have to do with the constitution anyway? I bet she is the one that set it for hearing 3 weeks before the election.

    Do your homework people! This “judge” diana lewis is in the pocket of special interests, banks, and insurance companies. This is just a ploy to seem like she cares about the people of Palm Beach County.

    Reply
    • Diana L. says

      August 6, 2014 at 1:58 pm

      Seriously??????? What does this have to do with the Constitution? OMG, you can’t be serious, can you?

      Reply
      • Jus Tice says

        August 6, 2014 at 5:30 pm

        I am serious. Florida law provides that if the marriage was legal in another state that it is upheld here. There is no evidence that he was discriminated by Florida or its courts. This case should have been just passed through this “circus” of a court and Mr. Bangor should have received the proper rights to the estate.

        Unfortunately this “judge” feels the need to thrust this grieving man into the spotlight for her own political gain.

        I do not disagree that Gay marriage should be legal across all of America, and I also think that the Florida Amendment should be struck down as being unconstitutional. This article just proves that this judge had no merit or reason to do so, other than her own crooked political means.

        Reply
        • Diana L says

          August 6, 2014 at 5:42 pm

          My regrets, I mid-read the intent of your comment.

          Reply
  3. Informed says

    August 6, 2014 at 1:54 pm

    It proves he’s into dogs, Diana!

    Reply
  4. TOPOMATO says

    August 6, 2014 at 6:19 pm

    Pretty soon humans will be able to marry a watermelon or a squash. Its called a “VEGGIE MARRIAGE”

    Reply
  5. Observant says

    August 6, 2014 at 7:50 pm

    I don’t get why this is such a HUGE issue….let them marry whoever they want and be able to incur the same legal obligations as heterosexuals including the cost of divorce—they aren’t hurting you or I and religion is of one’s preference. Nobody but the big man upstairs should be judging

    Reply
  6. Let's see now says

    August 7, 2014 at 9:43 am

    Observant… Thank you! who cares who marries who. It does not affect my my life or yours except…. Perhaps, if one person has access to medical benefits and the other does not… Hey lookie there! One more person NOT using Medicaid or leaving unpaid medical bills for tax payers to deal with should they get sick! How ’bout them apples! Oh here’s another, our court systems can move onto bigger and better things to waste our tax dollars on, like red light camera tickets :-)

    Reply
  7. Observant says

    August 7, 2014 at 11:56 am

    All I’m getting at is that there are bigger fish to fry–

    Reply
  8. Rick says

    August 8, 2014 at 8:49 am

    So it has changed. No more Adam & Eve as now it’s Steve & Eve? Interesting. What ever might be next?

    Reply
  9. Palm Coast Resident says

    August 9, 2014 at 10:24 am

    Government get out of our bedrooms and if you have a religious preference, keep it to yourself.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Advertisers

  • grand living realty
  • politis matovina attorneys for justice personal injury law auto truck accidents

Recent Comments

  • FlaglerLive on Flagler Beach Property Owner Liam Mackin, 70, Identified as Anti-Semitic Hate Crime Suspect Just as He Flees
  • ellen on Flagler Beach Property Owner Liam Mackin, 70, Identified as Anti-Semitic Hate Crime Suspect Just as He Flees
  • mike oconnell on FWC Admits Error and Changes Policy in Response to Palm Coast Outrage Over Gruesome Killing of a Pet Deer
  • jake on Flagler Beach Property Owner Liam Mackin, 70, Identified as Anti-Semitic Hate Crime Suspect Just as He Flees
  • jake on The Deeply Rooted Biases Biases Behind Transgender Athlete Bans
  • Skibum on FWC Admits Error and Changes Policy in Response to Palm Coast Outrage Over Gruesome Killing of a Pet Deer
  • Atwp on Florida Senate Panel Backs $200-a-Year Tax on Electric Vehicle Owners to Offset Gas Tax Revenue Loss
  • Atwp on A Poisoned Tree Grows in St. Augustine
  • Compassionate on Tony Zaksewicz, Honored Matanzas High Teacher, Arrested over Walmart Theft Scheme Stretching Over 6 Months
  • Atwp on A Poisoned Tree Grows in St. Augustine
  • Is that a donkey I see..... on Flagler Beach Property Owner Liam Mackin, 70, Identified as Anti-Semitic Hate Crime Suspect Just as He Flees
  • Atwp on Flagler Beach Property Owner Liam Mackin, 70, Identified as Anti-Semitic Hate Crime Suspect Just as He Flees
  • Locallady on Pedestrian Reported to Have Jumped in Front of Car Is Killed on Belle Terre Parkway
  • Endless dark money on In Florida, Voter-Suppression Is Essential to GOP’s Edge
  • Endless dark money on Florida Likes Its Tailpipe Emissions As They Are and Rejects $320 Million in Federal Carbon Reduction Aid
  • No excuses on A Poisoned Tree Grows in St. Augustine

Log in

Created using the Donation Thermometer plugin https://wordpress.org/plugins/donation-thermometer/.$7000Raised $5784 towards the $7000 target.$5784Raised $5784 towards the $7000 target.83%

Thank you for being among the 25,000 readers who stop by here every day: You depend on FlaglerLive for reliable, fearless reporting and analysis you cannot get anywhere else. But like freedom, serious journalism depends on its advocates to survive. That means you. That means more than thoughts and good wishes are needed. As a challenging 2024 looms, take a stand for integrity and have a direct voice in fostering serious journalism in your community. As little as $10 makes a difference, or better still, become a monthly donor: Become a Friend of FlaglerLive, a 501(c)(3) non-profit news organization. Your contribution is tax-deductible. Click anywhere in this box and make a year-end gift that supports truth.

All donors’ identities kept confidential.