Stupid Wisconsin Law – One of Many

Sunday’s (28 Jan, 2007) newspaper had an article about a groom and his father being charged with false solemnization. That is performing a marriage without a duly paid for license. False solemnization can also include performing a marriage with an expired license or performing a marriage in a different county than the issuing county.

Wisconsin legislators are very good for passing laws and more laws to fine and jail Wisconsin residents. And if a marriage is invalid without a license, then how could a marriage be performed?

In typical fashion, only males are charged. Outagamie County Assistant Dist. Atty. Melinda Tempelis has charged the groom as aiding and abetting. But, the bride was also present and willingly took part in the ceremony. She is no doubt exempt from charges due to Wisconsin case law that treats adult females as foolish, frightened, and frigid.

The article in the newspaper led off with a rather maudlin attempt to garner sympathy for the bride’s family. It didn’t work for me. It appears that her parents want to get their own way and meddle. This is not unique. The daughterâ€™s attempt to place a restraining order on her parents was denied by the Outagamie Family Court Commissioner. The two lovebirds may have to leave the state to get some peace.

I am not convinced that there is anything about marriage that is all that solemn. But, I am from the generation when all males took it in the butt upon divorce. This was the time when judges would rather send children to Jonestown with their mother rather than placing them safely with their father.

The actual so-called marriage events are not clear. The main basis for the charges is the claims of a bridesmaid. Or the prosecutor proceeded based on the feelings of the parents.

At any rate, the exclusion of the bride from charges is another example of the bigoted nature of Wisconsin law.

Notes:

The Pilgrims ran afoul of solemnization. Since they allowed only civil marriages, some of their traders were jailed in England for not performing proper church weddings.

A measure was introduced in the Burgesses of Virginia Colony to retroactively nullify all marriages not performed by an Anglican minister. Too bad it didn’t pass. If it had, Virginia could call itself the Bastard State.

In some of the colonies, marriage by banns was permissible.