# The 10 Commandments and Courthouses **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [April 23, 2002, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-10-commandments-and-courthouses/105169 "2002-04-23T16:55:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-10-commandments-and-courthouses/105169/41 "2002-05-03T02:37:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MEBuckner \* > \*\*And an even higher legal authority than that says that … \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Ryan \* > \*\*Are you implying that the US Constitution applies to Alabama? \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Gadarene \* > \*\*There’s this little thing called the Fourteenth Amendment, see… 🙂 \*\* > [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Ryan \* > **Which is in the US Constitution, right? So my question stands.** Alright, here’s your answer, **The Ryan** : yes, the [U.S. Constitution](http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.articlevi.html) does apply to Alabama: > [@](#): > > **Article VI** > > All debts contracted and engagements entered into, before the adoption of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under this Constitution, as under the Confederation. > > **This Constitution** , and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all treaties made, or which shall be made, under the authority of the United States, **shall be the supreme law of the land** ; and **the judges in every state shall be bound thereby** , anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding. > > The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and **the members of the several state legislatures, and all executive and judicial officers** , both of the United States and **of the several states, shall be bound by oath or affirmation, to support this Constitution** ; but no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States. ---
**Author:** ![W.Panic\_Snopes](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@W.Panic\_Snopes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/W.Panic_Snopes)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-10-commandments-and-courthouses/105169/42 "2002-05-03T03:02:52Z")
> [@](#): > > ## \*Originally posted by AlaItalia \* \*\*quote: > > If I were to have a case before the Supreme Court (god forbid) I don’t think I would be afraid I wouldn’t get a “fair shake” because I’m not a Christian; how the heck would they know what religion I am or am not? So that argument is specious. > \*\* As a gay man in Alabama, I am terrified of that very thing. The lesbian mother from California had to sign an oath stating that she had not had sex with her partner while in Alabama in order to avoid possible litigation against her. In addition, Moore stated that (based on a cubit long list of Bible verses and canonical law) that she was aberrant and lived in open defiance of God and the state law, and that it was not only his power but his duty to uphold the law “with the power of the sword”. And keep in mind: the trial wasn’t even being heard- this was a case thrown out due to an introduction technicality in the appellate court. When Lambda complained to the state ethics commission, it was completely ignored and dismissed without review. (The next week one of Moore’s ardent supporters came to Montgomery to give a show of fraternity to the Chief Injustice of the T’Alabam’, that supporter being the Right Reverend Fred Phelps.) I have no doubt whatever that if there were a conflict between state law and biblical dicates, Moore would side with Corinthians over the constitution. If you have the money you can appeal to the USSC, but it could take years. Moore is now saying that he plans to run for governor when his term expires, a gesture that seems to say “Fob James punished you with whips, I’m hauling out the scorpions, brother.” ---
**Author:** ![HubZilla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ccd318/32.png) [@HubZilla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HubZilla)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 5:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-10-commandments-and-courthouses/105169/43 "2002-05-03T05:55:44Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ms. Lois \* > \*\*The first 3 commandments are ONLY about religion, and have NOTHING to do with secular laws: > \*\* EXACTLY!! I’d sure hate to see our courts follow part of commandment #1: > [@](#): > > I am the Lord thy God, mighty, jealous, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; “Hey, what did I do?” “You, nothing. But your grandpa stole some money in South Sioux City, Nebraska. You’re going to jail” Oddly enough, the only time the bible refers to the “Ten Commandments” (outside chapter titles) is not Exodus 20 or Deutoronomy 5. But in in Exodus 34:28: “And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant-the Ten Commandments.” The list is given earlier in the chapter, saying things like “Do not cook a young goat in its mother’s milk” ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Fight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/90ced4/32.png) [@Cat\_Fight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Fight)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-10-commandments-and-courthouses/105169/44 "2002-05-03T16:42:46Z")
Speaking of religion in courtrooms, don’t witnesses still have to swear in using the Bible? And Snopes, that news you relayed is truly horrifying. How the heel can this still be happening? ---
**Author:** ![Regina](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d78d45/32.png) [@Regina](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Regina)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-10-commandments-and-courthouses/105169/45 "2002-05-03T17:35:14Z")
**Snopes,** you’ve helped me understand better the argument of not getting a fair deal with Judge Moore: > [@](#): > > I have no doubt whatever that if there were a conflict between state law and biblical dicates, Moore would side with Corinthians over the constitution. I guess I was thinking of a case that didn’t have anything to do with what he considers to be “sin,” like a contract dispute or something. I agree he would most likely side with the biblical over the law, since he thinks the 10CCs are the “moral foundation of law” and are the Word of God and came first, after all. :rolleyes: Like **Cat Fight** , I don’t understand how he can do this, since he was elected to interpret the _law_, not the Bible. Very scary. Concerning whether witnesses have to swear on the Bible, I’m not sure about in Court, but in deposition, they don’t have to say “So help me God.” I noticed in Oregon it’s apparently “under the penalty of perjury.” You can be sure Judge Moore himself says “so help me God” and probably feels that people would be more likely to tell the truth if they swear by God because perjury is bad, but Final Judgment is worse. The thought of him as Governor is terrifying. Sorry if this is a hijack. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2002, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-10-commandments-and-courthouses/105169/46 "2002-05-03T19:18:57Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Cat Fight \* > Speaking of religion in courtrooms, don’t witnesses still have to swear in using the Bible? There are well-established procedures for swearing in witnesses who don’t subscribe to a Biblical religion. And us godless atheist heathens, too. 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-10-commandments-and-courthouses/105169.md?page=2)