The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a complaint Aug. 13 to the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct about Smith County Judge Randall Rogers, who forced Josten Bundy and Elizabeth Jaynes to marry as a condition of Bundy’s probation on misdemeanor assault charges after a fight with Jaynes’ ex-boyfriend. Jaynes was not involved in the incident and did not face any charges. The couple has since married per the judge’s orders.
The Tyler judge also required Bundy to write Proverbs 26:27, “If a man digs a pit, he will fall into it,” 25 times a day.
Staff Attorney Sam Grover submitted FFRF’s complaint to the judicial ethics commission on Aug. 13. “Judges cannot require people to get married or force them to write bible verses. Judge Rogers’ conduct was illegal and he should face serious consequences for it. His actions demonstrate a religious bias with significant implications for any nonreligious or non-Christian litigants appearing before him.”
FFRF has nearly 1,000 members in Texas. FFRF’s complaint garnered international coverage.
