MCLENNAN COUNTY, Texas (KXXV) — A Travis County judge ordered the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to pay McLennan County Justice of the Peace Diane Hensley $640,000 in court costs and compensatory damages..
- Hensley stopped officiating marriages in 2019, citing her Christian faith and the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act as protection for her decision not to perform same-sex marriages.
- The lawsuit was filed in December 2025 after Hensley said she lost more than $60,000 a year since stopping wedding ceremonies due to threats and investigations from the State Commission on Judicial Conduct.
- The State Commission on Judicial Conduct is still facing a statewide class action lawsuit on behalf of Justices of the Peace who were in the same situation as Hensley.
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A Travis County judge has ordered the State Commission on Judicial Conduct to pay McLennan County Justice of the Peace Diane Hensley $640,000 in court costs and compensatory damages after she refused to officiate same-sex marriages, citing her Christian faith and protections under the Texas Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
- The Commission shall pay compensatory damages to Judge Dianne Hensley in the amount of $10,000.00. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 110.005(a)(3).
- The Commission is enjoined from investigating, sanctioning, or disciplining Judge Dianne Hensley over her refusal to officiate at same-sex weddings on account of her religious beliefs, regardless of whether Judge Hensley continues to perform marriages for opposite-sex couples. See Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 110.005(a)(2).
- The Commission shall pay Judge Dianne Hensley’s reasonable attorney’s fees, court costs, and other reasonable expenses in the amount of $630,000.00.
The lawsuit was filed in December 2025 after Hensley chose to stop officiating same-sex marriages. Under her policy, she would refer same-sex couples to another officiant in McLennan County…