A Texas justice of the peace who declined to officiate same-sex weddings because of her religious beliefs has been awarded more than $640,000 after a Travis County district court ruled that the state’s judicial oversight agency violated her rights.
McLennan County Justice of the Peace Dianne Hensley was awarded $10,000 in compensatory damages, while the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct was ordered to pay approximately $630,000 in attorney fees and related expenses.
The ruling also permanently bars the commission from investigating, sanctioning, or disciplining Hensley for refusing to officiate same-sex marriages based on her religious convictions.
The case stems from disciplinary action taken against Hensley in 2019 after the commission learned that she would perform marriage ceremonies only for opposite-sex couples. Hensley, who cited her Christian faith, referred same-sex couples to other local officiants willing to conduct the ceremonies.
At the time, the commission issued a public warning, one of its more serious disciplinary measures, stating that Hensley’s actions cast doubt on her ability to act impartially toward individuals appearing before her because of their sexual orientation.
Hensley challenged the discipline under the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act, arguing that the commission’s actions unlawfully burdened her right to exercise religion.
Legal Battle Reaches Texas Supreme Court
The dispute led to years of litigation. In 2024, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that Hensley’s lawsuit could proceed and sent the case back to a lower court for further consideration.
In a separate ruling issued in January 2026, the Texas Supreme Court determined that the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct lacked authority under state law to discipline judges who decline to perform same-sex weddings for moral or religious reasons.
Following that decision, the Travis County court ruled in Hensley’s favor.
According to court records, Hensley maintained that she attempted to accommodate couples seeking marriage ceremonies by creating a referral list of local officiants who would perform same-sex weddings at comparable rates.
The commission later withdrew its disciplinary sanction against Hensley in 2024.
Court Awards Damages And Attorney Fees
In its June ruling, the court awarded Hensley the maximum $10,000 in compensatory damages available under the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act and ordered the commission to pay approximately $630,000 in attorney fees and expenses.
Hensley said the commission exceeded its authority by disciplining her for following her religious beliefs.
“I think the agency overstepped itself, and what we saw was their bias on the issue and not the law,” Hensley told KERA News following the decision.
Hiram Sasser, executive general counsel for the First Liberty Institute, which represented Hensley, praised the outcome.
“Judge Hensley always adhered to the law and the legal guidance provided by the Attorney General of Texas,” Sasser said, per Fox 4 KDFW. “We are grateful that this case has concluded and that Judge Hensley was vindicated.”
Broader Implications
The case traces its roots to the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
Supporters of Hensley argued that judges who voluntarily perform weddings should not be forced to choose between their religious beliefs and their ability to officiate ceremonies. Critics have contended that public officials who perform marriages should do so without regard to sexual orientation.
The Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct has not publicly commented on the latest ruling.
The decision comes as separate litigation involving other Texas justices of the peace who object to performing same-sex weddings continues to move through the courts.
