Posted on 06/29/2004 5:28:02 PM PDT by notforhire
North Carolina Judge Ordered to Restore Reference to God in Courtroom Entrances, Oaths
The Associated Press
RALEIGH, N.C. June 29, 2004 — The state Supreme Court ordered a judge Tuesday to restore references to God in the words used when he enters the courtroom and when witnesses swear to tell the truth. The high court sided with angry officials from two counties who complained that District Judge James M. Honeycutt had taken it upon himself to change courtroom procedures.
The high court ordered Honeycutt to stop using a revised oath missing the phrase "so help you God," and administer the witness oath as spelled out in state law. The court also ordered the judge to allow bailiffs to begin court sessions with a proclamation that includes "God save the state and this honorable court."
Honeycutt had threatened to hold several bailiffs in contempt of court if they continued to use the phrase, according to a complaint by court officials in Iredell and Davidson counties.
Honeycutt told officials in March he was revising the oath in his courtrooms because of the increasing number of non-Christians and people of diverse beliefs served by the court system.
Though the standard oath includes the reference to God, state law allows witnesses themselves to decide to "affirm" their intent to be truthful rather than take the oath referring to God.
Honeycutt did not immediately return a message Tuesday afternoon seeking comment.
Honeycutt was elected in 1990; he is one of nine judges who preside over district courts in four counties south of Winston-Salem. His term expires in 2006.
Brian Shipwash, the Davidson County clerk of court, said a number of court clerks and bailiffs had refused to heed Honeycutt's order.
"Basically the judge swore in his own witnesses," Shipwash said. "I think this decision returns this court to the people instead of like a dictatorship of one judge."
Copyright 2004 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
We won one for a change? Wow!
And for you non NCers here is some judge info. This has been a RAT state since reconstruction. But over the past decade the GOP has won a majority of judgeships, including all but 1 (I believe) judge on the Supreme Court. This is because the GOP is seen as the "law and order party" and the rats soft on crime. So, after several election cycle spankings the RATs who control state government decided to make judicial races "non-partisan" to better their chances at the polls.
Jefferson, Hamilton, et al, are spinning..
Maybe it is time the good citizens unelected him at the next election.
It's an encouraging thing to see the single-digit license plate in the church parking lot.
and James said, "But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath.</b? But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment."
This is why I alway 'affirm".
Here's a true story: Judge "Two Gun Charlie" Worrill, when he was an Early County Superior Court judge down in south Georgia, told his bailiff one day that he thought the bailiff ought to go out on the 2nd floor balcony of the old-fashioned courthouse on "motions day" and announce to the farmers and everybody out on the square: "OYEZ! OYEZ! OYEZ! The Superior Court of Early County is now in session. God save the Constitution of the United States and this Honorable Court!"
The good old country boy did his best, but what he shouted was, "OYEZ! OYEZ! OYEZ! The Superior Court is in session! God save Early County!"
Regards,
CD
BTTT
Guess what. He's a registered Democrat. I'm shocked.
The judge and, I am not sure which party he belongs to becasue that is a very Republican district, made a decision that he lacked the authority to make. The state court reveresed his move and I hope clarifies the issue. As for making judicial races nonpartisian the idea was first pushed Jim Martin I hink it is a good idea, but the GOP was helped by some really bad candidates including one who was aganst the death penalty I think his name was Jim Fuller and he beat incumbent conservative Democrat Louis Myer with a big boost from the NCAE in the primary in 1994 which began the Democrats judical downfall.
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