The World Around You

Roy Moore has been suspended from his duties by the Alabama Judicial Ethics Commission, pending a trial by the Court of the Judiciary. WSFA has the most complete coverage right now, including a list of the actual charges,

CHARGE ONE

22. Chief Justice Moore, while serving as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, did fail to uphold the integrity and independence of the judiciary as required by Canon 1 of the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics in that, in the circumstances described in paragraphs 1-21, he willfully failed to comply with an existing and binding court order directed to him.

CHARGE TWO

23. Chief Justice Moore, while serving as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, did fail to observe high standards of conduct so that the integrity and independence of the judiciary may be preserved as required by Canon 1 of the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics in that, in the circumstances described in paragraphs 1-21, he willfully failed to comply with an existing and binding court order directed to him.

CHARGE THREE

24. Chief Justice Moore, while serving as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, did fail to avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety in all his activities as required by Canon 2 of the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics in that, in the circumstances described in paragraphs 1-21, he willfully failed to comply with an existing and binding court order directed to him.

CHARGE FOUR

25. Chief Justice Moore, while serving as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, did fail to respect and comply with the law as required by Canon 2A of the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics in that, in the circumstances described in paragraphs 1-21, he willfully failed to comply with an existing and binding ourt order directed to him.

CHARGE FIVE

26. Chief Justice Moore, while serving as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, did fail to conduct himself at all times in a manner that promotes public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary as required by Canon 2A of the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics in that, in the circumstances described in paragraphs 1-21, he willfully failed to comply with an existing and binding court order directed to him.

CHARGE SIX

27. Chief Justice Moore, while serving as Chief Justice of the Alabama Supreme Court, did fail to avoid conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice which brings the judicial office into disrepute as required by Canon 2B of the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics in that, in the circumstances described in paragraphs 1-21, he willfully failed to comply with an existing and binding court order directed to him.

DONE this 22nd day of August, 2003.

THE ALABAMA JUDICIAL

INQUIRY COMMISSION

_____________________

Randall L. Cole

Chairman

BY ORDER OF THE COMMISSION

Notice that simply by defying the court order, Moore violated six separate provisions of the canon of Judical Ethics. I’m going to look like a seer to many in my office because I predicted that this is exactly what would happen as I was walking out the door today. Whether he will be convicted is another story, because as I understand it the vote must be unanimous.

UPDATE: Steven is surprised by this development.

Well, it’s official, the call has gone out for every whacko group to set up shop in Montgomery. AP reports,

Meanwhile, the around-the-clock vigil by Moore supporters continued in downtown Montgomery, with about 100 protesters moving from the steps of the judicial building to a sidewalk in front of the federal courthouse, where Thompson works. Some ripped to pieces and burned a copy of Thompson’s ruling. Demonstrators also held a mock trial, in which Thompson was charged with breaking the law of God.

“We hold you, Judge Thompson, and the United States Supreme Court in contempt of God’s law,” said Flip Benham, director of the anti-aborition group, Operation Rescue.

If you aren’t familiar with Operation Rescue, here is their website. It’s a real good read.

Kevin is looking to recruit contributors for a Sports Blog. Check it out if you’re interested.

Kevin has a weekend caption contest up at Wizbang. Enter and enjoy.

AP reports,

Chargers defensive tackle Leonardo Carson was arrested Thursday in his hometown of Mobile, Ala., for investigation of first-degree burglary and second-degree kidnapping.

Carson, on leave to attend his grandmother’s funeral, was booked into Mobile County Metro Jail and later released on $57,500 bond, according to an officer there who gave only his last name, Bernard.

Carson is due to rejoin the Chargers on Friday in Houston, where they play an exhibition game against the Texans on Saturday night.

Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said Thursday night the team was still trying to find out what happened.

Carson, who played at Auburn, is accused of forcibly entering a woman’s apartment, assaulting her, forcing her into a car and she only escaped when he had car trouble. Just another well-behaved athlete.

Washington Whispers reports online,

Retired Gen. Wesley Clark may still be a CNN analyst while he contemplates a run at the White House, but there’s one network show he has been barred from: “Lou Dobbs Tonight.” The reason? Dobbs believes that when Clark came on his show during the Iraq war and teed off on the Pentagon blueprint, the possible Democratic candidate was pushing his personal political agenda, not providing straight military analysis.

Steven at PoliBlog has started the latest and greatest event in the blogosphere, the Parade of Trolls. Submit your best example of trollishness.

WSFA reports,

The state judicial system’s web site had this notice concerning the state judicial complex. “The Supreme Court and State Law Library Building is closed to walk-in traffic until Monday, August 25, we will however be accepting telephone calls, telefaxs and emails.” Whether or not this message is connected to the movement of the monument is unknown.

The editorial pages defend the decision of the Associate Justices of the Alabama Supreme Court today:

UPDATE: Mac has a good summary of the different stories that are out there.

Having attended a family funeral myself yesterday, this story in this morning’s Birmingham News was particularly touching,

After 64 years of marriage, Mary Evancho Laborde couldn’t bear to let her husband go.

She said that just before she leaned over Raymond Laborde’s casket at his funeral this week to kiss him goodbye a final time.

But the sorrow was too much; the 89-year Hueytown woman’s heart stopped and she died right there.

On Thursday, Raymond, 88, and Mary were buried together in much the same way they lived - side by side, only inches apart.

“It’s almost like a fairytale, a sad fairytale,” said the Rev. Jack Hendricks Jr. of First United Methodist Church in Hueytown. “You don’t see many people who live together as long as they did that go out together.

“I would say it was God’s grace.”