California Judges Barred From Joining Boy Scouts, Other Antigay Youth Groups

Another group has been barred from participating in the Boy Scouts of America: California judges.

Following the recommendation of its ethics advisory committee, the seven justices of the Supreme Court of California voted Friday to prohibit judges from participating in nonprofit youth groups like the BSA that discriminate against a class of persons, reports The Bay Area Reporter.

Although the BSA lifted its ban on gay youth last year, the youth organization still denies membership to gay adult leaders.

In 1996 the Supreme Court of California banned judges from becoming members in organizations that practice invidious discrimination, meaning they deny membership to others based on classifications like race, gender, or sexual orientation.

However, an exception was made for youth groups and religious organizations in the California Code of Judicial Ethics, which sets standards of conduct for judges in and out of the courtroom.

This exception against youth groups has now been unanimously removed.

"The only remaining exception to the general rule is membership in a religious organization," stated Fourth District Court of Appeal Justice Richard D. Fybel, chair of the Supreme Court's Advisory Committee on the Code of Judicial Ethics.

"One other exception - belonging to a military organization - was eliminated as well, because the U.S. armed forces no longer restrict military service based on sexual orientation," he added.

The new rule will go into effect January 21, 2016.