Via the AP: Ala. Judge Wears Ten Commandments on Robe

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.

Attorney Riley Powell, defending a client charged with DUI, filed a motion objecting to the robe and asking that the case be continued. He said McKathan denied both motions.

“I feel this creates a distraction that affects my client,” Powell said.

As a Christian, I would state that this is about as close to self-parody (and self-defeating parody) as one can get.

As a general observer of politics, I would note that the point of judicial robes is solemnity. If one becomes a walking billboard, the word “solemn” goes out the window.

As one predisposed to believe in judicial restraint, I would point out to my conservative brethen who support this sort of nonsense that it is judicial activism.

As a resident of Alabama who is likely to live here the rest of his life here: couldn’t y’all knock this off, or at least do it in Mississippi or Arkansas?

Hat tip: Southern Appeal.