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Tennessee DA says gay couples are not entitled to domestic violence protections

  

Category:  News & Politics

Via:  ender  •  5 years ago  •  40 comments

Tennessee DA says gay couples are not entitled to domestic violence protections

S E E D E D   C O N T E N T



In a newly surfaced video, a Tennessee district attorney argued LGBT people are not entitled to domestic violence protections because he does not recognize their marriages as legitimate, according to   NewsChannel5 Nashville.

"So the social engineers on the Supreme Court decided that we now have homosexual marriage. I disagree with them. What do I do with domestic assaults?" Coffee County District Attorney Craig Northcott said at a 2018 Bible conference hosted by Dean Bible Ministries.

"The reason that there's enhanced punishment on domestic violence is to recognize and protect the sanctity of marriage. And I said there's no marriage to protect. So I don't prosecute them as domestics," Northcott added.

Northcott said he believes public officials should use the Bible in their work, so he would prosecute a domestic violence case between a gay couple as a regular assault.

According to   Tennessee law,   a victim of domestic abuse can be a former or current spouse, individuals who previously or currently have a sexual relationship or people who previously or currently live together.

Chris Sanders, executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project, called Northcott a "crackpot."

"When it happens, victims, survivors rely on those charged with enforcement of the law to protect them," Sanders told   NewsChannel5 Nashville.   "And, in this case, it looks like we have a district attorney who is willfully ignoring the marital status, the relationships of members in our community and not protecting them fully."

Northcott has also drawn nationwide ire for his statements on Muslim Americans. In a Facebook Post, he wrote that Muslims are "evil because they profess a commitment to an evil belief system" and that they are not entitled to constitutional rights, even if they are American citizens, according to NewsChannel5 Nashville.

"There are only God given rights protected by the Constitution. If you don't believe in the one true God, there is nothing to protect," Northcott said.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations filed a complaint against Northcott with the Tennessee Board of Professional Attorneys last month.

Marina Pitofsky

Photo: © The Hill  Tennessee DA says gay couples are not entitled to domestic violence protections


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Ender
Professor Principal
1  seeder  Ender    5 years ago

Someone needs to be out of a job.

 
 
 
katrix
Sophomore Participates
2  katrix    5 years ago

Apparently this shithole doesn't think couples who live together and are not married deserve protection either - although domestic assault does not require a marriage.

What kind of morons elect this type of horrible person?  Seems like there's a lot of it in the Deep South.

I cannot understand why he isn't removed from his job; he clearly cannot fulfill its requirements.

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
2.1  seeder  Ender  replied to  katrix @2    5 years ago

There is so much wrong here. From his stance on gay people to his stance on Muslim people to his stance that we should follow Christian, biblical law.

There is no way he could be doing his job objectively.

 
 
 
katrix
Sophomore Participates
2.1.1  katrix  replied to  Ender @2.1    5 years ago

This is why the founders should have allowed one religious test for eligibility for office.  The test would be - if you can't put our Constitution and country above your religion, you're not qualified to run.  Sure, many people would just lie about it, but it would keep the blatant fanatics like this guy out of office. 

 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Expert
2.1.2  Gordy327  replied to  Ender @2.1    5 years ago

He clearly thinks the law should be applied differently to different people. 

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
3  seeder  Ender    5 years ago
So the social engineers on the Supreme Court decided that we now have homosexual marriage. I disagree with them.

This hypocritical piece of shit. People like him want the courts to decide things for them yet when it doesn't go their way make outrageous claims.

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
3.1  Trout Giggles  replied to  Ender @3    5 years ago

How is this guy a prosecuting attorney...still?

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
3.1.1  seeder  Ender  replied to  Trout Giggles @3.1    5 years ago

Especially when he admits bias.

 
 
 
JBB
Professor Principal
4  JBB    5 years ago

JBB says that bigot Tennessee DAs are not entitled to jobs serving the public....

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
5  Tacos!    5 years ago

I guess I don't understand why a DA of all people would be making this distinction when Tennessee law does not require that people even be married to apply DV. I'll bold some key points.

In the State of Tennessee, Tennessee Code 39-13-111 governs domestic violence. According to that statute:

  • Domestic abuse victim” includes:
  • a current or former spouse of the offender
  • person with whom the offender resides or previously resided
  • person who the offender is dating or previously dated or someone with whom the offender has or previously had a sexual relationship
  • someone with whom the offender is related by blood or adoption
  • a person with whom the offender is or was related by marriage, and
  • an adult or minor child of the offender or a family or household member.

So, marriage is sufficient to qualify for DV protection but not necessary. Therefore, how he feels about gay marriage isn't even relevant.

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
5.1  seeder  Ender  replied to  Tacos! @5    5 years ago
So I don't prosecute them as domestics

It is relevant when he even admits he is not following the law.

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
5.1.1  Tacos!  replied to  Ender @5.1    5 years ago
It is relevant when he even admits he is not following the law.

The point is his reason is not relevant.

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
5.1.2  seeder  Ender  replied to  Tacos! @5.1.1    5 years ago

Not following the law is not relevant?

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
5.1.3  Tacos!  replied to  Ender @5.1.2    5 years ago
Not following the law is not relevant?

No. His reason is not legally relevant because you don't have to be married (straight or gay) for the domestic violence statute to apply. It's a bit like saying he doesn't want to mow the lawn because French Onion soup is tastier than Tomato.

 
 
 
Dismayed Patriot
Professor Quiet
5.1.4  Dismayed Patriot  replied to  Tacos! @5.1.3    5 years ago
No. His reason is not legally relevant because you don't have to be married (straight or gay) for the domestic violence statute to apply. It's a bit like saying he doesn't want to mow the lawn because French Onion soup is tastier than Tomato.

That makes absolutely no sense.

"The reason that there's enhanced punishment on domestic violence is to recognize and protect the sanctity of marriage. And I said there's no marriage to protect." - Dumbass District Attorney Craig Northcott 

To try and use your sad inadequate analogy it would be like saying he doesn't want to mow your lawn, even though he mows everyone else's lawn in town, because you're gay.

"There are only God given rights protected by the Constitution. If you don't believe in the one true God, there is nothing to protect," Northcott said.

Ah, a prime example of what rational Americans have been pointing out about radical religious extremists among us who think they should still be paid as a civil servant (AG) but refuse to serve everyone in the community because of their own cowardly filthy personal religious opinions. If you don't want to accept equality, if you refuse to accept civil laws and believe your oath of office is only to other radical religious conservatives, then get the hell out of civil service, you are neither wanted nor needed.

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
5.1.5  Tacos!  replied to  Dismayed Patriot @5.1.4    5 years ago
That makes absolutely no sense.

Yeah, I know. That's the point.

The reason that there's enhanced punishment on domestic violence is to recognize and protect the sanctity of marriage.

See, if that were true, the law would limit itself to married couples. It specifically includes other relationships that are not marriage. That's why his personal opinion on same-sex marriage is not legally relevant. The text of the law he wants to ignore doesn't make the distinctions he seems to think it does.

To try and use your sad inadequate analogy

I see you're trying to help me respect your input again. jrSmiley_78_smiley_image.gif  Let me ask you a question. Do you somehow imagine that I agree with this DA? Because if you do, then your reading comprehension sucks. And if you understand that I don't agree with him, then why are you being argumentative with me?

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
5.1.6  seeder  Ender  replied to  Tacos! @5.1.5    5 years ago
you don't have to be married (straight or gay) for the domestic violence statute to apply

Yet he was purposely not charging people with domestic violence, depending on their status.

He even admits this where you cannot....

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
5.1.7  Tacos!  replied to  Ender @5.1.6    5 years ago
Yet he was purposely not charging people with domestic violence, depending on their status.

Yes I understand that. I have been talking about that. I don't know why you think I don't understand that except that you assume you are supposed to disagree with me on everything.

He even admits this where you cannot....

What is it you think I cannot admit? Where are you getting this idea?

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
5.1.8  seeder  Ender  replied to  Tacos! @5.1.7    5 years ago

Actually, you are one of the people I think are reasonable which is why I really don't understand your position.

That's why his personal opinion on same-sex marriage is not legally relevant

It is relevant when he changes charges.

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
5.1.9  Tacos!  replied to  Ender @5.1.8    5 years ago
I really don't understand your position.

What position is it you think I have?

It is relevant when he changes charges.

Look [deep breath] a thing has a relevant connection to another thing. It's relevant if it tends to prove or disprove the argument you're making. Just saying something is relevant isn't helpful. It's like saying it matters. If you want me to say it matters, I have no problem with that. All I have said is that his reason doesn't make sense - not just because it comes from bigotry. That's obvious enough. 

As a lawyer, he is trying to make a legal argument that does not connect to even a casual reading of the law he is claiming to interpret. He is saying he can't do a thing for a certain reason but his reason doesn't connect to the law.

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
5.1.10  seeder  Ender  replied to  Tacos! @5.1.9    5 years ago

When he will not prosecute a spouse for a certain violation and instead charges them with something else, he is changing the laws to suit himself.

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
5.1.11  Tacos!  replied to  Ender @5.1.10    5 years ago

Well prosecutors pick and choose all day long between what they could charge and what they will charge. Very often, they overcharge. In this case, this DA appears to be undercharging because he doesn't respect the victims.

 
 
 
epistte
Junior Guide
5.1.12  epistte  replied to  Tacos! @5.1.11    5 years ago
Well prosecutors pick and choose all day long between what they could charge and what they will charge. Very often, they overcharge. In this case, this DA appears to be undercharging because he doesn't respect the victims.

He is a bigot who doesn't belong in the office, any more than Kim Davis did because that office isn't a platform for his bigotry.

I am wondering if you might be agreeing with him? 

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
5.1.13  Tacos!  replied to  epistte @5.1.12    5 years ago
I am wondering if you might be agreeing with him? 

You'd have to be willfully ignorant or trolling to think that. Read the thread before you comment.

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
5.1.14  Split Personality  replied to  epistte @5.1.12    5 years ago
I am wondering if you might be agreeing with him? 

Tacos, first comment ( #5) is pretty clear that he disagrees with this particular DA, because as stated

in the quoted statutes,

marriage is not a requirement for domestic violence charges in TN.

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
5.1.15  Trout Giggles  replied to  Split Personality @5.1.14    5 years ago

Yeah....I can clearly see Tacos' point. It appears that Taco's does not agree with this DA.

Y'a'll, sometimes we have to put out differences aside. In this case Tacos agrees with us

 
 
 
katrix
Sophomore Participates
5.2  katrix  replied to  Tacos! @5    5 years ago

He probably has about as much intelligence as that small-town Alabama mayor who said we need to "kill out" gay people.

I can't believe whoever elected him (or appointed him - not sure how it works in TN) was not aware of his positions.  He doesn't seem the type to have kept it hidden until just now.

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
5.2.1  seeder  Ender  replied to  katrix @5.2    5 years ago
Alabama mayor who said we need to "kill out" gay people

Another one. It seems everyday more of these kind of people come crawling out of the woodwork.

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
5.2.2  Tacos!  replied to  katrix @5.2    5 years ago
He probably has about as much intelligence

I am frequently amazed at the people who made it through law school, much less managed to pass the bar and hold onto a nice government lawyer job. This guy is super dumb.

 
 
 
Trout Giggles
Professor Principal
5.2.3  Trout Giggles  replied to  Tacos! @5.2.2    5 years ago

Do you know what they call the person who graduated last in medical school?

Doctor

 
 
 
evilone
Professor Guide
6  evilone    5 years ago

I hope this whackjob finds himself unemployed.

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
6.1  seeder  Ender  replied to  evilone @6    5 years ago
Alabama mayor who said we need to "kill out" gay people

It needs to happen sooner rather than later.

 
 
 
epistte
Junior Guide
7  epistte    5 years ago

He also seems to have a problem with the separation of church and state.

Northcott said he believes public officials should use the Bible in their work, so he would prosecute a domestic violence case between a gay couple as a regular assault.
 
 
 
Gordy327
Professor Expert
7.1  Gordy327  replied to  epistte @7    5 years ago

Major red flag right there.

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
7.2  seeder  Ender  replied to  epistte @7    5 years ago

I have to shake my head when he spouts things like Muslim people believe in the wrong god, when in reality, both religions believe in the same god.

 
 
 
epistte
Junior Guide
7.2.1  epistte  replied to  Ender @7.2    5 years ago
I have to shake my head when he spouts things like Muslim people believe in the wrong god, when in reality, both religions believe in the same god.

All three of those middle eastern monotheistic religions believe in the same Abrahamic god. 

 
 
 
MrFrost
Professor Expert
8  MrFrost    5 years ago
The14th Amendmentto the U.S. Constitution, ratified in 1868, granted citizenship to all persons born or naturalized in the United States—including former slaves—and guaranteed all citizens “equal protection of the laws.”

Nuf said. 

 
 
 
MrFrost
Professor Expert
9  MrFrost    5 years ago
"The reason that there's enhanced punishment on domestic violence is to recognize and protect the sanctity of marriage. And I said there's no marriage to protect. So I don't prosecute them as domestics," Northcott added.

1) SCOTUS says that same sex couples can be legally married, in the USA. 

2) Someone needs to explain to him the difference between holy matrimony and legal marriage. One is subject to the law, the other one....no one gives a shit about. 

3) As has been pointed out, "separation of church and state". 

 
 
 
epistte
Junior Guide
9.1  epistte  replied to  MrFrost @9    5 years ago
1) SCOTUS says that same sex couples can be legally married, in the USA. 

2) Someone needs to explain to him the difference between holy matrimony and legal marriage. One is subject to the law, the other one....no one gives a shit about. 

3) As has been pointed out, "separation of church and state". 

Did you ever notice that the same people who attack LGBT marriage ignore the hypocrisy of not attack interracial marriage because the SCOTUS decisions (Loving v. Virginia and Obergefell v. Hodges) are legally identical.  They have no problem being homophobic but they won't publicly admit to being racists.

Racists also used the Bible to defend their bigotry.

 
 

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