Judge John Roach
While Page Price has already complied with Collin County Judge John Roach’s ruling to move out of her partner’s home, an appeal in the case could be filed soon.
Roach ruled in May that Price must move out of the home she and her partner, Carolyn Compton, share after Compton’s ex-husband reopened the case, citing the “morality clause” in their divorce papers. The clause doesn’t allow anyone who’s dating Compton and not related by blood or marriage to stay overnight.
Barrett Stern, the attorney representing Compton, said Price has moved out the home, and he is waiting for Roach to issue the written order under his ruling. Stern said he expects that to happen within the next week or so, and he and his client will decide where to go from there. He also said he’s waiting on courtroom transcripts before moving forward with any appeal.
After Dallas Voice broke the story about Roach’s ruling, Destyn Sublett of California started a MoveOn.org petition, entitled, “Tell Judge John Roach that morality clauses damage families and have no place in America’s courtrooms!” She said morality clauses are outdated and harm every community. The petition has garnered more than 62,000 signatures.
“I thought it was very infuriating,” Sublett said. “I don’t think it was right just because a couple is gay.”
Sublett said she knows little can be accomplished from the petition, but she wanted to do something and hopes it has some effect.
“By raising people’s awareness sometimes we can get things on a bigger scale to change,” she said.
Locally, leaders with the Collin County Gay and Lesbian Alliance have met with Compton about the case and reached to people who know Roach. They’ve had little success in contacting him, and he hasn’t returned messages seeking comment.
