I thought this would be of interest to list members. I have been unable to find a copy of the State court's order, but will post it if it becomes available.
Will
CLA Helps Put God Back in North Carolina Courtroom
The North Carolina Supreme Court ruled this week that a state trial judge may not remove references to God in his courtroom. On June 23rd, attorneys for Christian Law Association helped three elected officials file a judicial misconduct complaint with the North Carolina Judicial Standards Commission for Judge James Honeycutt's actions of removing "so help me God" from the statutory oaths given to witnesses and dropping the statutory requirement that witnesses swear or affirm on the Bible.The judge had also warned the courtroom bailiffs that they could no longer invoke the traditional proclamation "God save the state and this honorable court" before the beginning of each court session. Last week, he threatened to hold the bailiffs in contempt if they did not follow his orders by Tuesday, June 29.
Because of the judge's looming deadline, the bailiffs could not wait for the Commission's investigation. Therefore, CLA attorneys quickly prepared another petition, which was filed directly with the Chief Justice of the North Carolina Supreme Court two days later, asking the Court to order Judge Honeycutt to comply with state law and tradition. On Monday, June 28, 2004, only one business day after the petition had been filed, the state supreme court ordered Judge Honeycutt to follow the state's oath procedures and to allow the bailiffs to invoke God's protection on the state and the court.
Attorney David Gibbs of the Christian Law Association said: "This is a victory over activist judges who are trying to make their own laws, enforce the laws they make up, and then judge the validity of the law in violation of the constitutional separation of powers doctrine. The North Carolina Supreme Court should be applauded for its quick action and for upholding North Carolina's two-hundred-year-old laws and traditions."
Will Esser --- Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein
Charlotte, North Carolina
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We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark;
the real tragedy is when men are afraid of the light.
Plato (428-345 B.C.)
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