From Turley, this bizarre tale of Alabama judicial sensibilities, where Presiding Covington County Circuit Judge M. Ashley McKathan was “cited for ordering 100 people to form a “circle of prayer” and then dropping to his knees in prayer in his courtroom.”
While the facial church/state issue is too painfully obvious for further discussion, there are two things that are just too precious to ignore. First, the local story on the subject, posted at MSNBC, is entitled:
Ala. judge draws ACLU scorn for circle of prayer in courtroom
That’s right. No problem with a judge holding a prayer circle in a courtroom. The problem is those darn (pseudo-Yankee) ACLU heathen agitators, bothering a good ol’ boy who’s beseeching the good lord for guidance and justice.
Then, the Alabama Press-Register, that liberal rag, posts an editorial condemning Judge McKathan’s conduct, stating that anybody with a law degree ought to know that you can’t do that. But the editorial goes on to say:
Judge McKathan probably had good intentions. Indeed, the parties may be able to resolve their dispute if they seek spiritual guidance according to their church’s teachings.
But good intentions or not, the judge’s behavior was inappropriate.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t the first time Judge McKathan let his religion interfere with his responsibilities as a judge. He garnered much-deserved criticism in 2004 when he took up the habit of wearing a robe to court that was embroidered with the Ten Commandments.
At a minimum, Judge McKathan should give the case to another judge. In the meantime, someone with direct knowledge of his behavior would show good judgment by taking the incident up with the Judicial Inquiry Commission.
Could the editors’ condemnation of this deliberate insertion of religion into judicial proceedings be, oh, a tad more forceful?
No doubt there is something about this courtroom (or the good people who live in the area surrounding it) that I just don’t understand. But I cannot help but wonder what’s going through their minds down there.
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Running for office, maybe?
This seems to be a trend there: agitate with religion, get the evangelicals on your side, and run for governor.
Then again, it’s Alabama, so all the judges are running for office all the time.
As a former resident of Alabama and member of the bar, it is sad for me to witness how the judiciary in Alabama has pandered to get elected. When I was home during the Supreme Court elections and viewing campaign commercials, you would think that having taught Sunday School was equal or more valuable than having attended law school. However, the state did produce Bill of Rights champion Justice Hugo Black and Judge Frank Johnson as well so there is always hope.
Thanks Doug. What I couldn’t understand is why the editorial isn’t calling for his head. This was outrageous, and yet it was treated as if it was nothing. You would think it was in some foreign country, where theorcracy rules.
Does justice ever prevail. Im not even sure what our justice department is up to. Pretty Hopeless!
[Post edited to delete self-promotion]