Post by WaTcHeR on Feb 14, 2007 15:11:08 GMT -5
ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- A courthouse Bible study led by a suburban St. Louis judge is an improper government endorsement of Christianity, an attorney wrote in a letter of complaint to St. Charles County's presiding judge.
St. Charles attorney Darrell Davis sent the letter last month to Judge Ted House. Copies were sent to the other 11 judges as well - including Associate Judge Matthew Thornhill, who leads the weekly Bible study group.
"I believe that by allowing this group to meet regularly and free of charge, the court is in fact forcing the taxpayers of the county of St. Charles to support these Christian gentlemen in their avocation and beliefs," Davis wrote.
The judges discussed the letter at their monthly meeting and have invited County Executive Steve Ehlmann and County Counselor Joann Leykam to their next meeting on March 5 to discuss the issue.
But House, who has attended the meetings on occasion, said he sees nothing wrong with them.
"To me it's an issue of a free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly," he said. "There's no other context in which we could tell a group of lawyers they can't meet."
The group has met since 2002. About 10 people usually attend the meetings, which usually are held on Wednesdays.
"I just think it's very worthwhile," said Thornhill, who took the bench last month.
Davis' letter complained that the meetings were only open to male lawyers and were held in a nonpublic jury room. They are now held in a public room, and Thornhill said other courthouse employees have attended and some lawyers have brought friends.
All of those at the meeting are male, however.
Thornhill said two women have expressed interest in the meetings but decided not to attend when he said that men's issues were often discussed. However, he said, women were not prohibited from attending.
Thornhill already was no stranger to controversy at the courthouse. He hears only civil cases because of allegations of impropriety as an assistant prosecutor.
He resigned that post in December after the allegations - which he has denied - that he solicited baseball memorabilia in exchange for reducing a criminal charge in a drug case.
Prosecutor Jack Banas has disqualified Thornhill from criminal cases because of the dispute.
hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MO_JUDGE_BIBLE_STUDY_MOOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-02-10-13-42-30
St. Charles attorney Darrell Davis sent the letter last month to Judge Ted House. Copies were sent to the other 11 judges as well - including Associate Judge Matthew Thornhill, who leads the weekly Bible study group.
"I believe that by allowing this group to meet regularly and free of charge, the court is in fact forcing the taxpayers of the county of St. Charles to support these Christian gentlemen in their avocation and beliefs," Davis wrote.
The judges discussed the letter at their monthly meeting and have invited County Executive Steve Ehlmann and County Counselor Joann Leykam to their next meeting on March 5 to discuss the issue.
But House, who has attended the meetings on occasion, said he sees nothing wrong with them.
"To me it's an issue of a free exercise of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of assembly," he said. "There's no other context in which we could tell a group of lawyers they can't meet."
The group has met since 2002. About 10 people usually attend the meetings, which usually are held on Wednesdays.
"I just think it's very worthwhile," said Thornhill, who took the bench last month.
Davis' letter complained that the meetings were only open to male lawyers and were held in a nonpublic jury room. They are now held in a public room, and Thornhill said other courthouse employees have attended and some lawyers have brought friends.
All of those at the meeting are male, however.
Thornhill said two women have expressed interest in the meetings but decided not to attend when he said that men's issues were often discussed. However, he said, women were not prohibited from attending.
Thornhill already was no stranger to controversy at the courthouse. He hears only civil cases because of allegations of impropriety as an assistant prosecutor.
He resigned that post in December after the allegations - which he has denied - that he solicited baseball memorabilia in exchange for reducing a criminal charge in a drug case.
Prosecutor Jack Banas has disqualified Thornhill from criminal cases because of the dispute.
hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MO_JUDGE_BIBLE_STUDY_MOOL-?SITE=VARIT&SECTION=US&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2007-02-10-13-42-30