Boy, they sure love The Ten Commandments in Alabama. The crimson bubbaville that gave us State Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore and his beloved monolithic graven image of the Ten Commandments set in stone in the courthouse have now given us a new wingnut judge with aspirations of media-whoring piety.
A rural Alabama judge began wearing a robe embroidered with the Ten Commandments to his Andalusia courtroom this week, echoing the statement made by the state Supreme Court chief justice ousted over a Ten Commandments display.
Covington County Presiding Circuit Court Judge Ashley McKathan said he ordered the robe and had it embroidered using his own money. He said he did it because he felt strongly that he should stand up for his personal religious convictions.
“Truth is an absolute value,” McKathan said, “and you can’t divorce the law from the truth. I feel we must resist the modern attempts to discount the truth.”
The truth… is that your personal religious convictions to which you are referring? So, as an impartial jurist, all petitioners to your court need to recognize your religious beliefs as truth? Well, I’m sure that is in no way going to influence any of the proceedings in your court, especially if the plaintiff or defendant are not in agreement with your truth.
The robe is black with gold letterring less than an inch tall on the chest.
Here’s an idea for the next set of judicial robes, Your Honor. Try these on for some embroidery:
Article [I.]
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.Article [II.]
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.Article [III.]
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.Article [IV.]
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.Article [V.]
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.Article [VI.]
In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the Assistance of Counsel for his defence.Article [VII.]
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise re-examined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.Article [VIII.]
Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.Article [IX.]
The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.Article [X.]
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
I think that would look mighty keen in half-inch tall gold lettering. It would also be a set of truths much more relevant to your job.
Moore issued a statement of support Tuesday.
“The recognition of the God who gave us the Ten Commandments is fundamental to an understanding of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution,” Moore said. “I applaud Judge McKathan. It is time for our judiciary to recognize the moral basis of our law.”
What part of Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof… do you not understand?
McKathan said … “I see the Ten Commandments as a connection to the truth,” he said. “The scriptural truth is the underlying foundation for the law. It has sustained Western civilization for centuries. Without the truth, you can throw the law away.”
No. No. A thousand times, no. The underlying foundation for our law can be traced to the Declaration of Independence — (inalienable rights from our Creator, specifically not written as “God” or “Jesus”, because the Founders understood that everyone believed the God-thing differently and that state endorsement of religion is the deathknell of democracy). Before that we can trace back to English Common Law, the Magna Carta, and if you wanna go far enough back, the Code of Hammurabi, which pre-dates the Ten Commandments by a couple thousand years.
Furthermore, 70% of the Ten Commandments (as I wrote here aren’t even enshrined in our laws. Let’s take a look:
1. I am the Lord thy God. Thou shalt not have strange gods before me.
By the merciful hand of Allah, this is not illegal. Praise Zeus!
2. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
Jesus H. Christ, this isn’t illegal, either, God damn it!
3. Remember thou keep the Sabbath Day.
Brett Favre is telling me this isn’t illegal as well.
4. Honor thy Father and thy Mother.
No matter how much the people at Hallmark wish it were, this too is not a law.
5. Thou shalt not kill.
Aha! A commandment that is a law. Though Scott Peterson and 100,000 dead Iraqi civilians might have a question about where the exceptions are listed in the Commandments.
6. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
Again, not a crime. But lying about it might get you impeached. Or at least removed from consideration as Director of Homeland Security.
7. Thou shalt not steal.
Another one that actually is a crime. Though there must be some exception in Exodus for companies whose former CEO’s become vice president…
8. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
The final one of the three commandments that are actually laws. However, further on in Exodus we get to the part where it’s OK to lie if you really really want to bomb Mesopotamia
9. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s wife.
Not against the law. In fact, it seems to be a Republican hobby.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods.
Not against the law. I’d suggest that it’s the basis of our entire economic system — keeping up with the Joneses.
I hope this judge gets thrown out on his ass like Roy Moore was. This Christo-fascist theology creeping into our government is too scary. Church is for God’s Law, court is for man’s law.
