Religious test for constable applicants in Williamson County (updated 11:37 p.m.)

[TexasTowelie]

Last edited Wed May 22, 2013, 12:45 AM - Edit history (2)

GEORGETOWN, Texas (KXAN) - When applying for work, jobseekers generally aren't aren’t asked about their political, religious, or moral beliefs.

In most cases employers know they can’t ask those sorts of questions under the U.S. Constitution and equal employment opportunity rules. But Williamson County commissioners don’t believe those rules applied when they appointed a new constable.

After Williamson County Precinct 3 Constable Bobby Gutierrez retired, commissioners had to appoint a new constable. They interviewed five candidates. And the questions they asked those candidates during the interviews raised eyebrows.

“Was I for gay marriage or against gay marriage?” former candidate Robert Lloyd said he was asked. “The next question was, what was my thoughts on abortion? Was I pro-life or pro-choice?”

More at http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/investigations/interview-questions-spark-criticism-possible-legal-action .

[font color=green]It looks like the lawsuit is coming![/font]

Lawsuit pending over Williamson County constable interviews

ROUND ROCK —

A Central Texas civil rights group is threatening legal action after Williamson County commissioners interviewed candidates for a constable job and asked about their views on abortion, gay marriage, religion and politics.

Such questions violate the Texas Constitution, as well as the First Amendment, said Jim Harrington, director of the Texas Civil Rights Project. “It’s just astounding that they think they can ask these questions.”

“You can’t have a religious test for employment, according to the Texas Constitution,” Harrington said. A government employer also can’t discriminate on the basis of “irrelevant personal views,” he said.

<<<snip>>>

“Williamson County will decline to comment further at this time regarding the interviews due to the reported threat of a lawsuit by the Texas Civil Rights Project,” said Connie Watson, a county spokeswoman.

More at http://www.statesman.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/lawsuit-pending-over-williamson-county-constable-i/nXyj7/

[LeftInTX]

1. Sue! Sue! Sue!

[MsPithy]

2. I do no think even Scalia

would find this Constitutional. Wonder how the taxpayers of Williamson County will like having their taxes raised to pay to defend this lawsuit?

[azurnoir]

3. and they really thought they would get away with this

wonder how much this one will cost the taxpayers of Williamson County?

[freshwest]

5. Hopefully, it will be enough to get these fools voted out of office!

[azurnoir]

6. Really, you'd think so anyway

at least we can hope

[NoPasaran]

9. You must not be familiar with Williamson County

[freshwest]

12. No, I grew up in a Democratic county.

Those particular clowns there might want to read the Constitution.

[sakabatou]

4. You'd think Georgetown would know better.

[dbackjon]

7. Sue the County into Bankruptcy!!

Screw em.

[Skeeter Barnes]

8. I figured this had to be Williamson County, TN.

The kind of idiots that vote for Marsha Blackburn.

[Javaman]

10. ah yes, williamson county.

Once you leave Travis, it's like you drop off the earth.

[hobbit709]

11. JuanitaJean's take on it.

http://juanitajean.com/2013/05/22/because-its-against-the-law-in-texas-for-a-constable-to-not-hit-every-gay-person-he-can-find/

And she brings up this little tidbit.
" After asking about gay marriage, abortion and religion, commissioners unanimously appointed Kevin Stofle, a former assistant chief with the Georgetown Police Department.

Stofle does have decades of law enforcement experience, but he also has family ties to the commissioners court. His brother-in-law, Hal Hawes is the commissioners’ attorney. Hawes’ wife is still registered as the creator of the website www.kevinstofle.com.

But Commissioner Covey says that had nothing to do with the decision to appoint Stofle.

A good-ole-boy. A brother-in-law. So they are against gay marriage and abortion, but they all dandy with incest."