Court names justice of peace

• Advocate Florida parishes bureau
• Published: Nov 17, 2009 - Page: 5B

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HAMMOND — The Louisiana Supreme Court appointed a neighboring justice of the peace to fill the vacancy of Keith Bardwell who resigned on Nov. 3, a court spokeswoman said Monday.

Bardwell, a Robert justice of the peace, resigned after receiving national attention for refusing to perform a marriage ceremony for an interracial couple.

Debbie Brunett, the justice of the peace for Ward 5 in Tangipahoa Parish, will temporarily fulfill the duties for Ward 8, court spokeswoman Valerie Willard said. Brunett was elected to serve as justice of the peace for the Loranger area in October 2008.

Brunett’s appointment runs from Nov. 10 to May 30, 2010, Willard said. At that point, the position may be filled by a special election or the court could reappoint Brunett or someone else, Willard said.

Bardwell, who is white, had served as justice of the peace for Ward 8 for 34 years.

In past interviews, Bardwell, 56, has said he has married white couples and black couples but he did not marry interracial couples over concerns about the children.

This practice caught national attention when Bardwell would not sign a marriage license for an interracial Hammond couple on Oct. 6.