Ernie Chambers Files Complaint Against Judge for Denying Married Same-Sex Couple the Right to Adopt

Ernie Chambers, former representative of North Omaha’s District 11 in the Nebraska State Legislature and “Defender of the Downtrodden,” filed an official complaint to Nebraska Supreme Court Chief Justice Michael Heavican regarding a recent decision from Dixon County Judge Douglas Luebe. Chambers called out Judge Luebe’s “discriminatory dismissal of the adoption petition of a married same-sex couple” who were “qualified by law to adopt a minor child.”

Any potential repercussions for Judge Luebe lie in the hands of Chief Justice Heavican. NOISE reached out to Justice Heavican’s office about Chambers’ complaint and was told that Heavican’s office was “unable to answer” our questions “due to the confidentiality of the Judicial Qualifications Commission.” The Chief Justice’s office, however, did explain that disciplinary actions could include a number of possibilities outlined in the judicial discipline process, possible repercussions include the “reprimand, discipline, censure, suspension, removal, or retirement of such judge.”

The complaint filed on July 6th, 2020, comes a year after Kelly Hoagland and Maria Salas Valdez were told by Judge Luebe that he was tossing out their adoption petition. In an article from the Omaha World Herald, Judge Luebe was quoted saying he was “old fashioned” and that the “plain ordinary language” of state adoption law does not permit a “wife and a wife” to adopt. He added that if he were to allow the adoption, it would turn the courtroom into an “imagination station.”

Upon reading the Omaha World Herald’s account on the matter, Chambers said in his complaint letter that he “seethed with anger” and added that the blatant unlawfulness of Judge Luebe’s actions compelled him to “conclude that he has no fear of consequences.” In Chambers’ complaint, he pointed toward the Nebraska Constitution to make his case, quoting Article V, Section 30. “Judge Luebe’s unlawful act caused harm by inflicting extreme mental anguish on a family and did thereby engage in ‘conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice that brings the judicial office into disrepute,’” said Chambers.

Read more: https://www.noiseomaha.com/news-now/2021/9/1/ernie-chambers-files-complaint-against-judge-for-denying-married-same-sex-couple-the-right-to-adopt