A View From The Bench
Reflections of a Christian Judge
Many people ask me what I feel about the separation of church and state. I understand the alleged separation clause but am quick to point out the second half of the first Amendment of the same Constitution of the United States of America: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion OR prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
There is a little known fact I find interesting. The founding fathers established two segments of our judicial system where the judge is not required to hold a law degree. The first includes City, Town, and Village courts, the courts closest to the people. The other is the highest court in land, the Supreme Court of the United States. The formal term actually used to designate those sitting in these positions, is “Justices,” although everyone refers to us as Judges because that’s what we do; we try the facts of cases and then render judgment.
In my capacity as a Justice I do not have the responsibility to judge if a person is a Christian or not, my responsibility is to judge whether the evidence in a case is sufficient to convict a person of the crime they are accused of. If a person is found is guilty then my task shifts to the question of what is best course of action in sentencing the convicted. For justice to be rooted in integrity the punishment must fit the crime. Accordingly, I must weigh what retributive and/or rehabilitative recourse is appropriate.
Nowhere in the Constitution does it prevent me from being a Born Again Christian, while I discharge my duties as a Justice. Additionally, I have every constitutionally protected right to the free exercise there of. What it doesn’t allow me to do is impose my Christianity upon a person charges with an infraction or crime. However, I as a Christian am free to pray for guidance in dispensing justice and that from God, yes God!
Most Americans realize that the foundational bedrock of our legal system emerged directly from the Bible. No matter how much humanists, atheists, and our now secular lawmakers and judges try to mask or eliminate the Bible, Biblical principles, the Ten Commandments and Deuteronomy, Chapter One from our criminal justice system, Gods fingerprints and DNA are all over it. One need only read our founding documents to understand the founder’s perspective on the function of law. They clearly acknowledged God as creator and His Word as the standard barer of justice and the system to preserve that precious principle.
Try this on for size you who say there is no place for God in Government or courts. “We hold these truths to be self evident that we are endowed by our creator with certain inalienable rights and that of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” sound familiar, well, sadly, maybe not. Have you ever explored the foundations of criminal law practices and the documents there of? They are flooded with biblical reference such as: praying for the following relief or I pray the court, and on it goes as far as you can see.
Many people have been amazed that a person with my past is now a judge-so am I. However, I believe God has allowed me to hold this position of power that hinges on discernment, integrity, and sound judgment because He knew that I would judge fairly. He knew that I would consult Him and remember that everyone, the biker, banker, drug addict, alcoholic, and most of all you are entitled to equal and just treatment predicated on the presumption of innocence if and until the evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt, proves otherwise. I strive toward that high standard with everyone who stands before me in court.
The most worn out section of my Bible is Deuteronomy One, paraphrased to my personal application it essentially says; I have instructed them to be perfectly fair at all times, and when giving decisions never favor a man because he is rich, or powerful, be fair to everyone, for you are judging in the place of me. Consult me in matters that are hard for you to decide and I will give you wisdom and discernment.
When one leaves my court, even if convicted and sentenced, I pray they say, “That judge treated me fairly, justly and with respect.”
Yours in Christ:
-Judge a