The other Ten Commandments judge (President Jimmy Carter nominated)

Devoted boyfriend that he was, Thomas Hinds frequently accompanied his girlfriend on her baby-sitting jobs, including those at the home of a young federal judge, Myron Thompson.

That was 18 years ago, but the conductor and music director of the Montgomery Symphony Orchestra still prizes those baby-sitting dates for the friendship he developed with "one of the really fine people I know."

"A conversation with Myron Thompson at times feels like an athletic event," said Hinds. "He is curious; he wants to know the details. 'What do you mean? How do you do that?' He wants to know how things work.

"Myron is a very analytical person, and I'm very intuitive. We approach things in a different manner, and I think I frustrate him very much," Hinds said, laughing. "Myron takes things logically, and I will go from point A to point L."

Though he hasn't spoken at length with Thompson about his central role in the Ten Commandments fight -- it was Thompson who ruled that Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore's public placement of a Ten Commandments monument was unconstitutional and ordered it removed from the state Judicial Building -- Hinds doubts his friend is troubled by the harsh criticism from Moore and some supporters of the chief justice.

"Myron has great respect for people who disagree with him," Hinds said. "He is not rattled by people disliking his decisions. He says this sort of thing comes with the territory, that if you do what's right, sometimes it will be controversial."

Some have done more than just disagree. When Moore's eight associate justices on Aug. 21 overruled their chief justice's decision to defy Thompson's order, Moore denounced Thompson as having "put himself above the law (and) above God as well."

Hinds, like others interviewed for this story, described Thompson as a private man, rarely seen at Montgomery social events.

"Not only is that appropriate to his profession, I think that's his temperament," Hinds said.

An attempt to speak to Thompson for this story was unsuccessful. A clerk in his office stated that the judge wasn't giving any interviews.

In 1980, then-President Jimmy Carter nominated the Yale graduate and Tuskegee native to the federal bench. That year, Thompson became the second black person to serve as a federal judge in Alabama.

In the more than two decades since, he has presided over more than his share of controversial cases.

Though ideological labels are almost always overly broad, to the extent that some judges are branded conservative and others liberal Thompson belongs in the latter category, according to those familiar with his time on the bench.

In redistricting cases, for example, he consistently has issued rulings sought by black litigants seeking to increase representation by blacks on school boards, city councils and, as with a case in Baldwin County, on county commissions.

And in some important discrimination cases -- most notably, the long-running lawsuit by black employees against the Alabama Department of Transportation -- Thompson has ruled for minority plaintiffs.

In 1996, Thompson ruled in favor of a gay rights organization at the University of South Alabama that had been denied state funding that other student groups received.

Eight years earlier, Thompson participated in a celebration in Atlanta, marking the third anniversary of the national holiday in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

"He taught us physical characteristics, racial or sexual, simply do not determine a person's worth or value," Thompson told a reporter covering the event.

"Many of our laws dealing with the handicapped, sexual discrimination and so forth are all legacies of King," Thompson said.

"I think that in some quarters, Judge Thompson has a relatively liberal reputation," said Richard Cohen, chief counsel for the Southern Poverty Law Center and one of the lawyers opposing Moore in the Ten Commandments case.

"I think that other people would see him differently. For example, is it liberal to rule against the state when it was tying prisoners to a hitching post, which is a torture device?"

Thompson has found himself in the spotlight in part by virtue of his judicial district, which includes the state capital.

He's presided over a multitude of cases with statewide impact, issuing rulings on prison overcrowding and the state's treatment of the mentally ill. Thompson also was one of three judges who made the historic ruling that overturned Charlie Graddick's apparent victory in the 1986 Democratic gubernatorial primary.

Bill Baxley was declared the winner, and out of that mess rose Republican Guy Hunt, who defeated Baxley in the general election.

"He has had more opportunities to intervene in state matters precisely because he's been asked to do it more than the average judge," Cohen said.

Cohen said Thompson has a pretty good record as far as appeals, despite the conservative reputation of the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

The appeals court, for example, issued a powerfully worded order affirming Thompson's ruling in the Ten Commandments case. The same court -- in fact, the same appellate judge -- also criticized Thompson's handling of the Transportation Department discrimination case.

Some attorneys and parties with cases before him have cited a tendency for Thompson to take considerable time, such as a year or more, before issuing rulings.

In March, for example, Alabama Gov. Bob Riley blasted Thompson for delays that Riley said have cost the state substantial sums in legal fees and other costs during the now 18-year-old Transportation Department case.

"I have been advised that, for whatever reason, motions often pend before the Federal Court for years awaiting a ruling," Riley wrote in a letter to the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, in complaining about Thompson's oversight of the case.

But the 56-year-old jurist receives plaudits for his intelligence, his polite, professional courtroom demeanor and for the effort he makes to hear both sides out.

Montgomery lawyer David Boyd, who primarily represents corporate clients, said he's lost more than his share of cases before Thompson. Always, though, he's felt like his client received a fair hearing.

"I practiced against him when we were both lawyers, before he was a judge, and I've been in his courtroom many, many times, and I've had a lot of contact with him on court-related matters," Boyd said. "I hold him in very high regard.

"He's an active judge in the sense that he really wants to understand what's before him, and if he thinks lawyers are not doing a good job of getting the facts or the information that he needs or that a jury needs, he can be pretty active."

Thompson and his wife, Ann, have three children, two of whom are adopted, said Hinds. The conductor has known the judge's oldest son almost since birth, 18 years ago, and was also close to the boy's twin sister, Lilly.

"That's something that was very personal. She was just a lovely child," he said.

Hinds rarely sees his friend at the symphony, since Thompson prefers jazz to symphonic music, he said. He also likes to read.

"He's always reading something," said Hinds. "It's his personality -- he's interested in things all over the place."

"I enjoy being around an intellect greater than mine -- it's fun, it's an adventure. That's not that I'm willing to concede that to him; I'm a conductor, and we have egos," Hinds said, laughing.

As the movement of the Ten Commandments and the protests of that action developed into a national spectacle, Hinds said he couldn't help but wonder what was going on in the private, serious head of his friend.

"I said, 'Gee Myron, people are getting excited.' But he just went to the law, found out what the law said, and made a decision," Hinds said.

this book was use in America schools until 1903 New England Primer { The Real Education Book that America needs to get Back too}
http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a3b0c849d088d.htm

http://my.voyager.net/~jayjo/primer.htm

excerpt from the New England Primer...

Q. 40. What did God at first reveal to man for the rule of his obedience ?
A. The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience was the moral law.

Q. 41. Where is the moral law summarily comprehended ?
A. The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments.

Q. 42. What is the sum of the ten commandments ?
A. The sum of the ten commandments is, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind, and our neighbour as ourselves.

Q. 43. What is the preface to the ten commandments ?
A. The preface to the ten commandments is in these words, I am the Lord thy God which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, and out of the house of bondage.

Q. 44. What doth the preface to the ten commandments teach us ?
A. The preface to the ten commandments teacheth us, that because God is the Lord, and our God and Redeemer, therefore we are bound to keep all his commandments.

Q. 45. Which is the first commandment ?
A. The first commandment is, Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.

Q. 46. What is required in the first commandment ?
A. The first commandment requireth us to know and acknowledge God, to be the only true God, and our God, and to worship and glorify him accordingly.

Q. 47. What is forbidden in the first commandment ?
A. The first commandment forbiddeth the denying or not worshipping and glorifying the true God, as God, and our God, and the giving that worship and glory to any other which is due to him alone.

Q. 48. What are we especially taught by these words (before me) in the first commandment ?
A. These words (before me) in the first commandment, teach us, that God who seeth all things, taketh notice of and is much displeased with the sin of having any other God.

Q. 49. Which is the second commandment ?
A. The second commandment is, Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or the likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth; thou shalt not bow down thyself to them nor serve them, for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquities of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me and shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me & keep my commandments.

Q. 50. What is required in the second commandment ?
A. The second commandment requireth the receiving, observing, & keeping pure and entire all such religious worship and ordinances, as God hath appointed in his word.

Q. 51. What is forbidden in the second commandment ?
A. The second commandment forbiddeth the worshipping of God by images or any other way not appointed in his word.

Q. 52. What are the reasons annexed to the second commandment ?
A. The reasons annexed to the second commandment, are God's sovereignty over us, his propriety in us, and the zeal he hath to his own worship.

Q. 53. Which is the third commandment ?
A. The third commandment is, Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord wilt not hold him guiltless, that taketh his name in vain.

Q. 54. What is required in the third commandment ?
A. The third commandment requireth the holy and reverent use of God's names, titles, attributes, ordinances, word and works.

Q. 55. What is forbidden in the third commandment ?
A. The third commandment forbiddeth all profaning or abusing of any thing whereby God maketh himself known.

Q. 56. What is the reason annexed to the third commandment ?
A. The reason annexed to the third commandment is, That however the breakers of this commandment may escape judgment from men, yet the Lord our God will not suffer them to escape his righteous judgment.

Q. 57. Which is the Fourth commandment ?
A. The fourth commandment is, Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy, six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work, but the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God, in it thou shalt not do any work, thou nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy man-servant, nor thy maid servant, nor thy cattle, nor the stranger that is within thy gates, for in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day, wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it.

Q. 58. What is required in the fourth commandment ?
A. The fourth commandment requireth, the keeping holy to God such set times as he hath appointed in his word, expressly one whole day in seven to be an holy Sabbath to himself.

Q. 59. Which day of the seven hath God appointed to be the weekly sabbath ?
A. From the beginning of the world, to the resurrection of Christ, God appointed the seventh day of the week to be the weekly sabbath, and the first day of the week ever since to continue to the end of the world which is the Christian Sabbath.

Q. 60. How is the sabbath to be sanctified ?
A. The sabbath is to be sanctified by an holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days, and spending the whole time in public and private exercises of God's worship, except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy.

Q. 61. What is forbidden in the fourth commandment ?
A. The fourth commandment forbiddeth, the omission or careless performance of the duties required, and the profaning the day by idleness or doing that which is in itself sinful, or any unnecessary thoughts, words or works, about worldly employments or recreations.

Q. 62. What are the reasons annexed to the fourth commandment ?
A . The reasons annexed to the fourth commandment, are God s allowing us six days of the week for our own employment, his challenging a special propriety in the seventh, his own example, & his blessing the sabbath day.

Q. 63. Which is the fifth commandment ?
A . The fifth commandment is, Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.

Q. 64. What is required in the fifth commandment ?
A. The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties belonging to every one in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.

Q. 65. What is forbidden in the fifth commandment ?
A. The fifth commandment forbiddeth the neglecting of, or doing any thing against the honour and duty which belongeth to every one in their several places and relations.

Q. 66. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment ?
A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity, (as far as it shall serve for God's glory and their own good) to all such as keep this commandment.

Q. 67. Which is the sixth commandment ?
A. The sixth commandment is, Thou shalt not kill.

Q. 68. What is required in the sixth commadment?
A. The fixth commandment requireth all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life, and the life of others.

Q. 69. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment ?
A. The fixth commandment forbiddeth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbour unjustly, and whatsoever tendeth thereunto.

Q. 70. Which is the seventh commandment ?
A. The seventh commandment is, Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Q. 71. What is required in the seventh commandment ?
A. The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbor's chastity, in heart, speech & behaviour.

Q. 72. What is forbidden in the seventh commandment ?
A. The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words and actions.

Q. 73. Which is the eighth commandment ?
A. The eighth commandment is, Thou shalt not steal.

Q. 74. What is required in the eighth commandment ?
A. The eighth commandment requireth the lawful procuring & furthering the wealth and outward estate of ourselves and others.

Q. 75. What is forbidden in the eighth commandment ?
A. The eighth commandlnent forbiddeth whatsoever doth, or may unjustly hinder our own or our neighbours wealth or outward estate.

Q. 76. Which is the ninth commandment?
A. The ninth commandment is, Thou Shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Q. 77. What is required in the ninth commandment ?
A. The ninth commandment requireth the maintaining and promoting of truth between man & man, & of our own & our neighbor's good name, especially in witness bearing.

Q 78. What is forbidden in the ninth commandment ?
A. The ninth commandment forbiddeth whatsoever is prejudicial to truth, or injurious to our own or our neighbor's good name.

Q 79. Which is the tenth commandment ?
A. The tenth commandmelat is, Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his man-servant, nor his maid-servant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Q . 80. What is required in the tenth commandment ?
A. The tenth commandment requireth full contentment with our own condition, with a right and charitable frame of spirit towards our neighbour, and all that is his.

Q. 81. What is forbidden in the tenth commandment ?
A. The tenth commandment forbiddeth all discontentment with our own estaxe, envying or grieving at the good of our neigbbour, and all inordinate motions and affections to any thing that is his.

Q. 82. Is any man able perfectly to keep the commandments of God ?
A. No mere man since the fall is able in this Iife perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but daily doth break them in thought, word and deed.

"But he just went to the law, found out what the law said, and made a decision,"

If Judge Thompson is truly as smart as this article strenuously claims, then he is well aware of the issue under contention here. To wit, the application of the "establishment clause" of the First Amendment, which is a bar on Congress, to the states, under the guise of the "equal protection clause" of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Judge Thompson's ruling conforms to precedent established in 1947 under the "Separation of Church and State" doctrine. Although that decision has led to several others, such as the notorious bans on school prayer, the original decision was not actually based on constitutional law.

I don't doubt that Judge Thompson is an intelligent and capable judge. He may very well feel, with significant justification, that complying with established precedent is his duty as a federal judge in his position.

However, such a "Good German" theory does not account for the fact that he is fully empowered to act on the basis of his own judicial analysis of theories under contention.

Ultimately, and unfortunately, the waters of this case have been clouded due to Judge Moore's apparent deliberate refusal to request an injunction while applications are made for appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Failing to do that has undermined Judge Moore's case, which otherwise would have offered a valuable opportunity to have this matter heard by the Supreme Court.

It would also have permitted the monument to remain in place until all appeal options had been exhausted, eliminating a lot of unneeded drama. As it is, Judge Moore's misconduct complicates what might have otherwise been an open and shut -- and precedent-changing -- case.

Oh well, maybe next time.

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