Judicial Panel Backs Homophobic Judge
Doreen Brandt
365Gay.com Newscenter in Washington

(March 22, Washington) A judicial panel, Thursday, dismissed a complaint against Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore.  Last month, in a ruling in a child custody case involving a lesbian mother, Moore wrote in his opinion in the case, that denied the mother custody of her teen aged children, that  homosexuality is ''abhorrent, immoral, detestable, a crime against nature, and a violation of the laws of nature.''

Lambda Legal Defence and Education Fund immediately filed a petition with the panel alleging Moore's comments showed he could not be an impartial.

The Alabama Judicial Inquiry Commission said it ''found no reasonable basis to charge a violation of the Alabama Canons of Judicial Ethics.''

The commission said it does not act against judges for statements made in opinions unless there is evidence of ''ill will.''

A lawyer for Lambda, Ruth Harlow believes the commission erred.  Harlow pointed to a long history of homophobia by Judge Moore.

His anti-gay rulings date back to 1996 when, as a circuit judge in Etowah County, he cited homosexuality in refusing to award a lesbian custody of her children. An appeals court later ordered him to step aside from the case after the woman complained Moore couldn't be fair because of his religious beliefs.

Tampa Bay Coalition Eye on GLBT Special New Report on Judge Moore. Contains a number of           articles and links on the Homohobic Judge. http://tampabaycoalition.homestead.com/files/TBCCheifJusticeMoore.htm

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