Sigh. Why do people do this?
MUSKOGEE, Okla. (RNS) A district judge in Oklahoma who sentenced a 17-year-old boy to 10 years of church attendance is standing by his sentence as the right thing to do — even if it may not have been the constitutional thing to do.
Judge Mike Norman gave Tyler Alred a 10-year deferred sentence for DUI manslaughter. Alred was driving a Chevrolet pickup in the early morning hours of Dec. 4, 2011 when he hit a tree. His passenger and friend, 16-year old John Dum, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Norman also ordered the boy to finish high school and complete welding school. Everyone involved has agreed to the sentence.
However, the ACLU isn’t happy.
Ryan Kiesel, the executive director of the Oklahoma chapter of the ACLU, said the requirement to attend church is a “clear violation of the First Amendment.”
“It’s my understanding that this judge has recommended church in previous sentences, and I believe that goes too far, as well,” Kiesel said. “This, however, actually making it a condition of a sentence, is a clear violation of the Establishment Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.”
Norman said he didn’t believe his sentence would pass a legal challenge — but he doesn’t believe either side will seek an appeal.
“Both families were satisfied with the decision,” Norman said in an interview. “I talked to the district attorney before I passed sentence. I did what I felt like I needed to do.”
A rep. for The Oklahoma chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State have an interesting take on the situation:
The Rev. Bruce Prescott, executive director of the Oklahoma chapter of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said he is sure the sentence doesn’t pass constitutional muster, but he is equally worried about the spiritual ramifications.
“I’m a minister,” Prescott said. “I want people to go to church, but it’s not helpful for a judge to sentence someone to church. What will the judge do if the young man changes his affiliation in the next few years? Will he be allowed to switch to a mosque or become an atheist? Religion is not a tool of the state, and it’s certainly not for the state to use as a tool of rehabilitation.”
This is one odd story, filled with pretzel logic. I mean seriously? Why would a judge do something unconstitutional? Isn’t that kind of like… breaking the law or something? If so, why isn’t law enforcement stepping in? I’m not an expert but this story is filled with all kinds of strangeness.
Kiesel said he is especially concerned in this case because the judge admits to making a decision he knows is not legal.
“The Constitution is not exercised at your discretion,” he said. “You take an oath to uphold it all the time, not just sometimes.”
Sigh.
