Pro-Marriage Equality Protesters Fined One Cent For Trespassing

The Louisville (KY) Courier-Journal reported last week on the trial of a same-sex couple-- Dominique James and the Rev. Maurice “Bojangles” Blanchard-- for criminal trespass after they refused to leave the Jefferson County Clerk of Court's office at its closing time in protest of being denied a marriage license. The couple insisted that they were "spiritually obligated" to stay.  The jury last Tuesday convicted the defendants, but imposed a fine of only one cent. The maximum fine could have been $250. Blanchard called the verdict a vindication of their protest. The couple had rejected a plea agreement under which charges would have been dismissed in exchange for their each working 5 hours at a charity of their choice. [Thanks to Tom Rutledge for the lead.]