Posted on 09/03/2005 6:03:06 PM PDT by neverdem
MEMPHIS - A pregnant teenager went to the grand and imposing county courthouse here early in the summer, saying she wanted an abortion. The circuit court judge refused to hear the case, and he announced that he would recuse himself from any others like it.
"Taking the life of an innocent human being is contrary to the moral order," the judge, John R. McCarroll of Shelby County Circuit Court, wrote in June. "I could not in good conscience make a finding that would allow the minor to proceed with the abortion."
The teenager was in court because Tennessee, like 18 other states, requires minors to obtain a parent's permission before they can have an abortion.
But the state also allows another option. The teenagers can ask a judge for permission to decide for themselves.
Judges, however, are starting to opt out. Other judges of the Shelby Circuit Court have recused themselves like Judge McCarroll, and now, according to one judge, only four of the nine judges on the court hear such abortion applications.
Judges in Alabama and Pennsylvania have also said they will not take such cases.
The actions, similar in some ways to pharmacists' refusal to dispense drugs related to contraception or abortion on moral grounds, have set off a debate about the responsibilities of judges and the consequences of such recusals, including political ones when judges are elected rather than appointed.
Judge McCarroll's decision prompted 12 experts on judicial ethics to write to the Tennessee Supreme Court in late August. The experts called his action lawless and said they feared that his approach could spread around the nation and to subjects like the death penalty, medical marijuana, flag...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
If every judge followed this line, every abortion case would go to pro-death judges.
Yeah, it's only okay to marry homosexuals.
Yes, I'm puzzled by these judges. Why don't they officially rule (unless the girl was forcibly raped) that the fact that she's pregnant demonstrates that she's not capable of making wise decisions about matters involving very serious long-term consequences?
Yes. And I like the idea.
Appoint all these judges to the federal bunch.
"bunch" = "bench"
bflr
Good for these judges. Now if we could just get politicians to call themselves Catholic to inform their consciences as well...
They won't have these problems in Ave Maria, FL. I really think more Christians should establish cities where they can live according to their beliefs. Let the ungodly keep to themselves in their own cities, like Sodom and Gomorah.
They won't have these problems in Ave Maria, FL. I really think more Christians should establish cities where they can live according to their beliefs. Let the ungodly keep to themselves in their own cities, like Sodom and Gomorah.
Had to reprise your uncommonly good summary of the situation.
Even Pilot washed his hands. Not that it did him any good.
Praise the Lord we do have some judges with some backbone and moral fiber. Amen and Amen.
If every judge followed this line, every abortion case would go to pro-death judges.
Good point.
True, though eventually, I think there will be a separation, I don't believe the time is now. There are still too many opportunities for missionary work out there.
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