An Arkansas State Senator has called
for the impeachment of the judge who struck down the state's ban on
gay marriage.
On Friday, Pulaski County Circuit Judge
Chris Piazza declared the state's ban invalid, saying in his 13-page
brief that the state has “no rational reason” for withholding
marriage from gay couples. Unlike some judges in other states,
Piazza did not stay his ruling. State officials have said they will
appeal the ruling.
(Related: Arkansas
clerk issues marriage license to lesbian couple following ruling.)
Senator Jason Rapert, a Republican,
told Little Rock NBC
affiliate KARK that he's looking into the possibility of ousting
Piazza over the ruling.
“I have been contacted today by other
legislators that would seek to start impeachment proceedings in the
House of Representatives against Judge Chris Piazza,” Rapert said.
Speaker of the House Davy Carter
dismissed Rapert's proposal as “absurd.”
“Trying to impeach a judge because
you don't like his or her decision notwithstanding the subject matter
is absurd and goes against hundreds of years of the way our great
country has conducted business under our three branches of
government,” Carter said. “Circuit judges are elected by the
people, as are our appellate and state Supreme Court judges. The
appellate process needs to run its course. Our forefathers saw the
importance of our constitution and system of self-governance. That
system has worked well for a long time and makes us who we are as a
country. I won't support any effort to undermine that.”