Alabama? Again? (Ten Commandments)

[sterlingice]

Ala. Judge Wears Ten Commandments on Robe
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...mandments_robe

2 hours, 36 minutes ago
By BOB JOHNSON, Associated Press Writer

MONTGOMERY, Ala. - A judge refused to delay a trial Tuesday when an attorney objected to his wearing a judicial robe with the Ten Commandments embroidered on the front in gold.

Circuit Judge Ashley McKathan showed up Monday at his Covington County courtroom in southern Alabama wearing the robe. Attorneys who try cases at the courthouse said they had not seen him wearing it before. The commandments were described as being big enough to read by anyone near the judge.

Attorney Riley Powell, defending a client charged with DUI, filed a motion objecting to the robe and asking that the case be continued. He said McKathan denied both motions.

"I feel this creates a distraction that affects my client," Powell said.

McKathan told The Associated Press that he believes the Ten Commandments represent the truth "and you can't divorce the law from the truth. ... The Ten Commandments can help a judge know the difference between right and wrong."

He said he doesn't believe the commandments on his robe would have an adverse effect on jurors.

"I had a choice of several sizes of letters. I purposely chose a size that would not be in anybody's face," he said.

The case raised comparisons to former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who was removed from office in 2003 for refusing to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the rotunda of the Alabama Judicial Building in Montgomery.

Moore said Tuesday he supports McKathan's decision to wear the Ten Commandments robe.

"I applaud Judge McKathan. It is time for our judiciary to recognize the moral basis of our law," Moore said.

Powell said if he loses his case, he expects the judge's wearing of the Ten Commandments robe to be part of an appeal.

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Every time there's a case like this, isn't it in Alabama without fail?

And there's an AP writer named Bob Johnson? Was John Smith writing for Reuters?

SI

[Crapshoot]

Ah yes- another reason Alabalma is better placed in the 19th century, as opposed this one.

[miked]

Why are some people so concerned with properly acknowledging the "moral basis of our laws" instead of just focusing on enforcing them and understanding them. What does him wearing a ten commandments logo on his robe have to do with how effectively he can interpret the state laws?

[chinaski]

Originally Posted by miked

What does him wearing a ten commandments logo on his robe have to do with how effectively he can interpret the state laws?

they forgot to mention he was wearing a tinfoil hat.

[gi]

Originally Posted by miked

Why are some people so concerned with properly acknowledging the "moral basis of our laws" instead of just focusing on enforcing them and understanding them. What does him wearing a ten commandments logo on his robe have to do with how effectively he can interpret the state laws?

Religion doesn't have a monopoly on Morality. Some would say with great arguments that religion has failed us. Governement endorcement of a religion tells everyone other person in this free republic that they are a 2nd class citizen.

[flere-imsaho]

Originally Posted by miked

Why are some people so concerned with properly acknowledging the "moral basis of our laws" instead of just focusing on enforcing them and understanding them. What does him wearing a ten commandments logo on his robe have to do with how effectively he can interpret the state laws?

Here's the relevant part of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution:

"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

And here's the First Commandment of the Ten Commandments:

You shall have no other gods before me.

See the problem?

[tategter]

Welcome to the beltbuckle of the bible belt.

To me it's an open-and-shut discussion. If you allow the ten commandments then you must also allow the five pillars of Islam and all of the other equivalents of all of the other major religions. This country was founded by Christians, but freedom of religion means all religions should be accepted and tolerated as long as they do no infringe of the rights of others (no human sacrafices). Then there's the whole separation of church and state thing.

As an aside, why is there a male circuit judge named Ashley? With a name like that he should have been last seen in the third grade hanging from the school flagpole by his underpants.

[gi]

Originally Posted by tategter

Welcome to the beltbuckle of the bible belt.

To me it's an open-and-shut discussion. If you allow the ten commandments then you must also allow the five pillars of Islam and all of the other equivalents of all of the other major religions. This country was founded by Christians, but freedom of religion means all religions should be accepted and tolerated as long as they do no infringe of the rights of others (no human sacrafices). Then there's the whole separation of church and state thing.

As an aside, why is there a male circuit judge named Ashley? With a name like that he should have been last seen in the third grade hanging from the school flagpole by his underpants.

I thought most of the were Dualist's?

[duckman]

Who names their son Ashley? I think I'll name my next son Sue just for kicks.

[sabotai]

There are a several modern girl names that are traditional boy names. Ashley is one of them (Evil Dead tidbit: Ash is short for Ashley. That's right...the badass played by Bruce Campbell is named Ashley). Shannon is another one that comes to mind (boy character in Home Movies).

[duckman]

I was TRYING to be funny.

[sterlingice]

Originally Posted by tategter

As an aside, why is there a male circuit judge named Ashley? With a name like that he should have been last seen in the third grade hanging from the school flagpole by his underpants.

SI

[clintl]

Originally Posted by tategter

This country was founded by Christians

Wrong. This country was founded by a mixture of Christians and Deists.

[sabotai]

Originally Posted by duckman

I was TRYING to be funny.

No, do or do not. There is no try.

[gi]

Originally Posted by clintl

Wrong. This country was founded by a mixture of Christians and Deists.

Thats it!!! Here I was saying Dualists....tis what I get for not reading as much history as I used to.