Is It Wrong For A Person To Be Sacked For Holding A Certain Personal Opinion?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3485915/Christian-magistrate-sacked-claiming-adopted-children-better-man-woman-parents-gay-couple.html

[Gromit]

It is if that personal opinion inhibits their ability to do their job properly.

A magistrate is there to administer the law, not ignore it and adhere to their faith instead.

[mikey4444]

I'm with Gromit here. Magistrates are there to administer justice completely independent of their personal views.

[woofgang]

no, its not wrong. What is wrong, as Gromit says, is expressing those views publicly or acting on them in the course of the job...or making people thing that you would act on them in the course of the job.

[ummmm]

I'm with Gromit too.

[andy-hughes]

Holding a certain personal opinion - no problem.

Letting people know that you hold that opinion in a way that indicates that you cannot be impartial - a requirement of your job - problem.

[mikey4444]

Andy has it right....impartiality is paramount and can't be compromised.

This chap is an experienced Magistrate, and he should have known better.

[viv41]

How was it affecting bis job ?

[andy-hughes]

viv41 - //How was it affecting bis job ? //

Judges, by definition, must be impartial.

By stating his personal views of the subject of adoption, this man has clearly advised the world at large that he is not impartial, which makes him unable to complete his duties.

[anotheoldgit]

/// He said: 'When you sit in a Family Court, you have a huge responsibility to ensure the overall well-being of the children who are being recommended to be placed into new families. ///

If at the time he thought that the well being of the child was better for it to be placed in a dual sex family rather than a single sex family, why was he wrong to say so?

Would it have also been wrong to state that he would think it better for a black child to be placed with a black couple rather than a white couple?

[viv41]

But how would gays adopting ever come up at his job as a Magistrate ?

[Islay]

No, its like the American registrar that would not marry gay couples - it was law in their state that gay couples be allowed to marry she refused - lost her job bish bosh bang!!

[viv41]

Oh aog, I didn't know he sat in a family court, I thought he only dealt with thugs and villains and bad drivers etc !

[andy-hughes]

We seem to have swerved from a question about opinions - to the rights and wrongs of ethnicity adoption - it's enough to give you a nose bleed!

[Togo]

The sacking of course leaves a question mark over whether any lawyer holding traditional Christian views, could now serve in conscience as a judge or magistrate. It also beggars the question as to whether the same applies to Sikh, Buddhist, Jewish or Muslim JPs. Of course a further question is, does anyone of any faith want to be 'judged' by an Atheist?

[anotheoldgit]

Oh so it is okay to hold those opinions in one's head and also act on them at times, just as long as one doesn't make them known?

[viv41]

No aog, I think he's entitled to his opinion, but that's not allowed these days is it ??

[anotheoldgit]

Islay

Nothing like that case, in this case he just offered a personal opinion behind closed doors, I don't believe a child was ever prevented from being placed with a same sex couple at any time.

[andy-hughes]

If you hold an opinion - and that is anyone with any opinion - then you know, and the world does not - so you cannot be dismissed for something no-one else is aware of.

If you are a judge and you demonstrate the arrogance and insensitivity to share your bigoted opinions with the world, then you show a sufficient lack of judgement (!) that means you are not capable of carrying out your duties with the lack of bias that is a pre-requisite of your position.

[andy-hughes]

viv41 - //No aog, I think he's entitled to his opinion, but that's not allowed these days is it ?? //

I refer you to my last post.