This should make your elitist heart go thumpa-thumpa ... (2001 estimate for AL population was 4,464,356) ...
'Ten Commandments' Justice Expelled
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — An Alabama judicial panel Thursday removed Chief Justice Roy Moore (search) and rejected his argument that he was upholding his oath when he ignored a federal court order to move a Ten Commandments monument (search) from the state judicial building.
"This court hereby orders that Roy S. Moore be removed from his position as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama," said Presiding Judge William Thompson (search). "The chief justice showed no signs of contrition for his actions."
Moments after the decision came down, Moore, 56, publicly reacted to his removal from office by reading from the court transcript.
"We must acknowledge God as the source of our law and our liberty and that's what this issue is all about. I have upheld my oath and obeyed my conscience," Moore told Fox News.
Moore said he had a feeling about what the outcome of the trial would be.
"I was not surprised by this verdict," he said.
The Court of the Judiciary listened to several hours of testimony and arguments Wednesday. The decision to remove Moore required a unanimous decision from the nine-member panel.
Thompson said the nine-member court had no choice in its decision after Moore willfully and publicly ignored the federal court order. "The chief justice placed himself above the law," Thompson said.
Under Thursday's decision, the governor will appoint someone to serve the rest of Moore's term, which expires in 2006.
Moore remained unapologetic for what he'd done.
"I have absolutely no regrets. I have done what I was sworn to do," said Moore, drawing applause.
He said he would consult with religious and political leaders before deciding what to do next. He could appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court.
Moore had been suspended since August because of the judicial ethics case, but was allowed to collect his $170,000 annual salary. He was halfway through his six-year term.
U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson (search) had ruled the monument was an unconstitutional promotion of religion by the government. A federal appeals court upheld the ruling, and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Moore's appeal. The monument eventually was rolled into a storage room.
Moore testified Wednesday that he was fulfilling his duties and promises to voters when he refused to follow the court order.
Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor (search) termed Moore's defiance "utterly unrepentant behavior" that warrants removal from office.
Moore insisted to the end that he was merely upholding his oath to "acknowledge God." He testified that he followed his conscience and did nothing to violate judicial ethics.
"To acknowledge God cannot be a violation of the Canons of Ethics. Without God there can be no ethics," Moore testified.
He also said that, given another chance to fulfill the court order, he again would refuse to do so.
When one panelist, Circuit Judge J. Scott Vowell, asked Moore what he would do with the monument if he were returned to office, the chief justice said he had not decided, but added: "I certainly wouldn't leave it in a closet, shrouded from the public."
"What message does that send to the public, to other litigants? The message it sends is: If you don't like a court order, you don't have to follow it," Assistant Attorney General John Gibbs said in closing arguments.
Moore attorney Mike Jones disputed that notion.
"There won't be this mass refusal to follow courts," he said. "In fact, I might suggest there might be more respect for a judiciary led by a man with faith and conscience."
Moore's trial began Wednesday morning with a prayer, requested by his attorneys and led by Chief Judge William Thompson. More than 200 people packed into the Alabama Supreme Court's courtroom, just two floors above the rotunda where the 5,300-pound granite Ten Commandments monument stood for about two years.
About 100 Moore supporters gathered on the sidewalk and plaza outside the building, praying and carrying signs that read "Save the Ten Commandments."
Greg Sealy, head of the Sitting at His Feet Fellowship in Montgomery, an inner-city mission, said it was the "darkest day" he has seen in America since he moved to the United States from Barbados 23 years ago.
"They stole my vote. The judiciary stole my vote. I voted for Roy Moore," he said.
'Ten Commandments' Justice Expelled
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — An Alabama judicial panel Thursday removed Chief Justice Roy Moore (search) and rejected his argument that he was upholding his oath when he ignored a federal court order to move a Ten Commandments monument (search) from the state judicial building.
"This court hereby orders that Roy S. Moore be removed from his position as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Alabama," said Presiding Judge William Thompson (search). "The chief justice showed no signs of contrition for his actions."
Moments after the decision came down, Moore, 56, publicly reacted to his removal from office by reading from the court transcript.
"We must acknowledge God as the source of our law and our liberty and that's what this issue is all about. I have upheld my oath and obeyed my conscience," Moore told Fox News.
Moore said he had a feeling about what the outcome of the trial would be.
"I was not surprised by this verdict," he said.
The Court of the Judiciary listened to several hours of testimony and arguments Wednesday. The decision to remove Moore required a unanimous decision from the nine-member panel.
Thompson said the nine-member court had no choice in its decision after Moore willfully and publicly ignored the federal court order. "The chief justice placed himself above the law," Thompson said.
Under Thursday's decision, the governor will appoint someone to serve the rest of Moore's term, which expires in 2006.
Moore remained unapologetic for what he'd done.
"I have absolutely no regrets. I have done what I was sworn to do," said Moore, drawing applause.
He said he would consult with religious and political leaders before deciding what to do next. He could appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court.
Moore had been suspended since August because of the judicial ethics case, but was allowed to collect his $170,000 annual salary. He was halfway through his six-year term.
U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson (search) had ruled the monument was an unconstitutional promotion of religion by the government. A federal appeals court upheld the ruling, and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear Moore's appeal. The monument eventually was rolled into a storage room.
Moore testified Wednesday that he was fulfilling his duties and promises to voters when he refused to follow the court order.
Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor (search) termed Moore's defiance "utterly unrepentant behavior" that warrants removal from office.
Moore insisted to the end that he was merely upholding his oath to "acknowledge God." He testified that he followed his conscience and did nothing to violate judicial ethics.
"To acknowledge God cannot be a violation of the Canons of Ethics. Without God there can be no ethics," Moore testified.
He also said that, given another chance to fulfill the court order, he again would refuse to do so.
When one panelist, Circuit Judge J. Scott Vowell, asked Moore what he would do with the monument if he were returned to office, the chief justice said he had not decided, but added: "I certainly wouldn't leave it in a closet, shrouded from the public."
"What message does that send to the public, to other litigants? The message it sends is: If you don't like a court order, you don't have to follow it," Assistant Attorney General John Gibbs said in closing arguments.
Moore attorney Mike Jones disputed that notion.
"There won't be this mass refusal to follow courts," he said. "In fact, I might suggest there might be more respect for a judiciary led by a man with faith and conscience."
Moore's trial began Wednesday morning with a prayer, requested by his attorneys and led by Chief Judge William Thompson. More than 200 people packed into the Alabama Supreme Court's courtroom, just two floors above the rotunda where the 5,300-pound granite Ten Commandments monument stood for about two years.
About 100 Moore supporters gathered on the sidewalk and plaza outside the building, praying and carrying signs that read "Save the Ten Commandments."
Greg Sealy, head of the Sitting at His Feet Fellowship in Montgomery, an inner-city mission, said it was the "darkest day" he has seen in America since he moved to the United States from Barbados 23 years ago.
"They stole my vote. The judiciary stole my vote. I voted for Roy Moore," he said.
