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Saturday, August 16, 2008

Judge Orders Prayer in Court

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/wual/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1341630

Associated Press

ANDALUSIA AL (2008-08-15) An Alabama judge who once wore the Ten Commandments embroidered on his robe has been accused of violating judicial ethics for ordering a group in his courtroom to hold hands and pray.The American Civil Liberties Union filed a complaint with the Judicial Inquiry Commission against Covington County Circuit Judge Ashley McKathan of Andalusia, said Olivia Turner, executive director of the ACLU of Alabama.

The complaint said McKathan violated ethics rules and the U.S. Constitution by ordering the group to pray.Four years ago, McKathan donned the Ten Commandments robe, he said, to publicly acknowledge his belief that the law is based on more than just words written in law books.

The ACLU complaint said McKathan dropped to his knees and prayed aloud during a court hearing in February. He told the 100 people in the courtroom that he was not afraid to call on the name of Jesus Christ, witnesses said, and ordered all to join hands and pray, according to the complaint filed soon after the hearing.

The hearing was for a case in which the pastor and several deacons of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Monroeville sued the church's former secretary to gain possession of financial records.

In response to the complaint, McKathan told the Mobile Press-Register for a story Thursday: "Whatever comes of all that, I'll continue to have peace." Quoting Romans in the King James version of the Bible, the judge added: "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose."

McKathan did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press Thursday.The complaint was filed on behalf of several Monroeville residents, including some church members.

© Copyright 2008, APR - ALABAMA PUBLIC RADIO

5 comments:

  1. my hubby has a case coming up before this judge...this guy has a reputation for being eccentric

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  3. Wee, I love the abbreviations.

    Folks, this is why I make sure my ACLU dues are paid in full and on time. I don't agree with every situation they get involved in, but I agree with enough of them that it makes it worth every penny to me.

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  4. Wee,

    Thanks a lot for the acronym. I like it enough that I'm bound to get in trouble for using it at work.

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  5. Clearly throwing yourself on the floor and ordering people to pray is childish and unprofessional. Replace calling upon "jesus christ" with "lord zoltan of Andromeda" or something like that and this guy would have his ass handed to him.

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