Another Alabama judge strikes:
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.
. . .
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.”
Yes, I can see it now: “Hold on, counsel–let me check my robe before I make this evidentiary ruling.”
I think Judge McKathan is in the wrong line of work if he needs special clothing to remind him of the difference between right and wrong.
Alabama may well be the most retarded place on Earth.
I have to wonder about the intelligence of this whole matter… Can you imagine what this same judge would say if a lawyer walked into his court sporting a T-shirt with a slogan like “F— You” or a sport jacket embroidered with the phrase “When religion ruled the world, they called it the dark ages”
I mean, how appropriate is any sloganeering in the courtroom, be it the ten commandments or something vulgar? That rule should apply to all in the courtroom, including the judge.