Restricting judges' associations (OneNewsNow.com)

Restricting judges' associations

Jeff Johnson - OneNewsNow - 6/18/2008 4:00:00 AM

puppet An Oklahoma judge is objecting to attempts by the state bar association to restrict his ability to associate with pro-family friends and organizations.

When the Bench and Bar Committee of the Oklahoma Bar Association proposed that judges be prohibited from holding membership in groups that "discriminate based on ... sexual orientation," Seventh District Judge Bill Graves objected. Graves wrote the committee to complain that such public policy decisions should be made by the legislature -- not by an un-elected committee of lawyers. Peter LaBarbera, president of Americans for Truth About Homosexuality, agrees.

"This is the bar association doing an end run around a public policy debate over homosexuality," says LaBarbera, noting that similar action has taken place in many states across the country, including his. "Here in Illinois it happened ... these 'sexual orientation' policies [are passed], the public is not involved, the legislators do not debate it -- and it advances the gay agenda."

Graves asked the committee what organizations would be banned based on the proposed rule. Taking into account this proposal originated the Oklahoma affiliate of the liberal American Bar Association, LaBarbera has an idea.

"[It] could mean that a judge would not be able to sit on the board or be involved with the Boy Scouts, the Knights of Columbus, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, AWANA -- the Bible clubs for kids. It's just preposterous," says the family advocate.

LaBarbera considers the proposed policy change as just another attempt by homosexual activists to get in the courts what they cannot win at the ballot box.

"[M]any people believe that homosexuality should be a factor when you're talking about child custody cases [for example]," LaBarbera offers. "But, thanks to legal activism of this sort, in more and more states across the country, you cannot factor in 'sexual orientation' at all."

Graves also argued that judges do not surrender their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and freedom of association just because they put on a robe. He stresses that homosexuals, bisexuals, and those who are gender-confused should "be treated with courtesy, fairness and justice just like anyone else." But that does not mean, he argues, that homosexuality should be treated as though it is "as normal and natural as heterosexuality."