You know what ticks me off?
What is wrong with the Alabama judiciary?
Some of you may recall the press coverage slightly more than a year ago about the member of the Alabama Supreme Court who had a monument placed in front of the courthouse with the Ten Commandments carved on it. He later resigned, and the monument was removed by court order. Now, in a similar vein, another Alabama judge has embroidered the Ten Commandments on the front of his robes. In mustard yellow, no less. From an interview with him from NPR's 'All Things Considered,' broadcast 12/27/04, I have discovered a few facts. His belief, of course, is that the U.S. legal system is rife with references based upon the Bible. To this, he adds that the symbol is unobtrusive. He recognizes that some people have other religions, he even comments that he knows one, but states that this is Alabama, and that cases where people might be affected by it are extremely rare.
I have to wonder why such displays are tolerated. Would a similar display of the 'UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights' be tolerated? I submit that it would not be allowed.
1) It is not part of the U.S. Code of Justice.
[Well, neither are the Ten Commandments. Is the fact that there is similarity between many laws and some of the Commandments make it part of the Code of Justice? NO! Where in any U.S. law does it say 'I am the Lord your God'?]
2) The display is not obtrusive.
[Perhaps if it were printed where it isn't staring a defendant or plaintiff in the face this would be true. There was some amount of uproar when Chief Justice William Rhenquist added gold stripes to the sleeves of his judicial robe. Any modification at all causes some disquiet. At least with stripes there isn't a statement involved.]
3) What kind of equivocation is it to say that people who might be affected by it in Alabama are rare?
[Regardless of the majority of a particular religious affiliation people in Alabama may have, the point of the court is to be impartial to everyone. When a judge puts on the robes of office, he becomes the embodiment of justice. Even if his personal morals come from religion, or from Mars, in his role as a justice he *must* only apply the rule of law, and as I said in point #1, the Commandments aren't in the U.S. Code of Justice.]
I've said my piece. I'll accept arguments and comments.
Some of you may recall the press coverage slightly more than a year ago about the member of the Alabama Supreme Court who had a monument placed in front of the courthouse with the Ten Commandments carved on it. He later resigned, and the monument was removed by court order. Now, in a similar vein, another Alabama judge has embroidered the Ten Commandments on the front of his robes. In mustard yellow, no less. From an interview with him from NPR's 'All Things Considered,' broadcast 12/27/04, I have discovered a few facts. His belief, of course, is that the U.S. legal system is rife with references based upon the Bible. To this, he adds that the symbol is unobtrusive. He recognizes that some people have other religions, he even comments that he knows one, but states that this is Alabama, and that cases where people might be affected by it are extremely rare.
I have to wonder why such displays are tolerated. Would a similar display of the 'UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights' be tolerated? I submit that it would not be allowed.
1) It is not part of the U.S. Code of Justice.
[Well, neither are the Ten Commandments. Is the fact that there is similarity between many laws and some of the Commandments make it part of the Code of Justice? NO! Where in any U.S. law does it say 'I am the Lord your God'?]
2) The display is not obtrusive.
[Perhaps if it were printed where it isn't staring a defendant or plaintiff in the face this would be true. There was some amount of uproar when Chief Justice William Rhenquist added gold stripes to the sleeves of his judicial robe. Any modification at all causes some disquiet. At least with stripes there isn't a statement involved.]
3) What kind of equivocation is it to say that people who might be affected by it in Alabama are rare?
[Regardless of the majority of a particular religious affiliation people in Alabama may have, the point of the court is to be impartial to everyone. When a judge puts on the robes of office, he becomes the embodiment of justice. Even if his personal morals come from religion, or from Mars, in his role as a justice he *must* only apply the rule of law, and as I said in point #1, the Commandments aren't in the U.S. Code of Justice.]
I've said my piece. I'll accept arguments and comments.