The Collin County Observer

DMN - Months after controversy, gay Collin County teen court coordinator to leave job

06/24/08

03:40:17 pm, by bill

, 235 words,

Categories: News Clippings, Discrimination - equality

DMN - Months after controversy, gay Collin County teen court coordinator to leave job

Months after controversy, gay Collin County teen court coordinator to leave job

Tuesday, June 24, 2008
By THEODORE KIM / The Dallas Morning News

The coordinator of Collin County’s teen court program, a one-time political candidate who said his job was put in jeopardy earlier this year because he is gay, appears now to be out of a job.

Justin Nichols, who ran unsuccessfully for a Plano City Council seat last month, said he and the county have reached a severance agreement and that he plans to leave his position Aug. 1.

Federal, state and county laws do not prohibit discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Twenty states and some municipalities, including the city of Dallas, do forbid such discrimination.

Mr. Nichols would not comment on the deal, citing a confidentiality clause in the agreement.

This morning, he said he was ready to sign the deal, which the Collin County Commissioners Court approved in a 3-1 vote following an executive session June 10. In an e-mail, Mr. Nichols later confirmed that he and the county had signed the agreement.

“I am proud of the work I have done with teen court,” Mr. Nichols said. “I have not changed any of my beliefs or foundations. I think this is an amicable agreement between me and the county.”

His attorney, Peter A. Schulte, said this afternoon that “nothing ’s been signed yet, but we’re moving in that direction.”

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Permalink 3 comments

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Comment from: anon [Visitor]

Interesting. Didn't the county commissioners claim there was no agreement a week or so ago? Is this a reflection on integrity?

Permalink 06/24/08 @ 16:49

Comment from: Teresa [Visitor]

Once again good old Collin County wins. This county thinks it is one of its own and just runs all over everyone they can. Unfortunally for the people who live here we have to put up with their discrimination even though they say or come up with some lame excuse as to why they really are after you. One day us as a community will get equal rights in this county and they will see just how wrong they were and all the money they wasted in their courts.

Permalink 06/25/08 @ 18:41

Comment from: Leah [Visitor]

Im sure you wont post this since its just plain honesty and personal experience with Collin County but lets put integrity to the test:

Unbelievable in this day and age that gay people should have to tolerate this behavior from our county offcials including Judges such as Judge Charles Sandoval who is clearly biased against gays. These people should no better.
Seems to me our county, state and federal officials should be more worried about rising gas and grocery prices and peoples ability to survive just day to day than about who is sleeping with who!

Permalink 06/25/08 @ 19:48

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The Collin County Observer

DMN - Months after controversy, gay Collin County teen court coordinator to leave job

06/24/08

DMN - Months after controversy, gay Collin County teen court coordinator to leave job

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