Giving the Law a Religious Perspective (Falwell & Robertson's Law Schools)

[Khephra]

LYNCHBURG, Va., Nov. 17 - The class in civil procedure, at the new Liberty School of Law here, began with a prayer.

"The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul," said Prof. Jeffrey C. Tuomala, quoting Psalm 19. "The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple."

But decisions of the United States Supreme Court, Professor Tuomala went on, are not always trustworthy. "Something that is contrary to the law of nature," he said, "cannot be law."

The school, part of Liberty University, whose chancellor is the Rev. Jerry Falwell, is for now a makeshift affair in a vast industrial building that used to be a cellular phone factory. Its students compensate for the surroundings by dressing well - many of the men wore jackets and ties - and by showing attentive enthusiasm, even for a heavy dose of civil procedure at 8 a.m.

The school, which says its mission is to train "ministers of justice," is part of a movement around the nation that means to bring a religious perspective to the law and a moral component to legal practice.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/22/national/22law.html

[Reverend_Smitty]

1. Yeah they will be great lawyers when...

the next Inquisition rolls around...they will interpret God's law quite well :puke:

[donco6]

2. Raising up a new crop of Pharisees, I see.

How appropriate.

[gumby]

3. Just a hint of what "Strict Constructionist" means. n/t

.

[Khephra]

4. Kick

:kick:

[yellowcanine]

5. Who the heck is going to hire a faith based lawyer?

[w4rma]

6. When most of the judges are faith based judges, then everyone will (nt)

[icymist]

7. Last night, when I was riding on the ferry during my daily commute...

to work, I saw a few guys who were trimmed father beyond what normal boys should be trimmed! They were all caring Bibles! As they passed me, in the car lanes, I was greeted by these people with such a judging look of indignation that I couldn't help but stop and take notice. Was it my hair that promoted these looks? Maybe it was my bumper stickers still proclaiming John Kerry and John Edwards running for the top ticket? Why? Why the look? Maybe from a little interest party trying to flex it's (so-called) muscle!?

[RuleofLaw]

8. Is this law school ABA approved?

If not, they cannot sit for any bar exam in most states and there is no danger that these bozos will ever get a law license.

"In order to sit for the bar exam, the vast majority of state bar associations require that an applicant's law school must be approved by the American Bar Association. The ABA has promulgated detailed requirements covering every aspect of a law school, down to the precise contents of the law library.

California is the most famous exception to the rule. Its Committee of State Bar Examiners accredits many schools which would not qualify for ABA accreditation (due to low admission standards, lack of a full law library, or nonstandard academic calendar). Graduates of such schools can sit for the bar exam in California, but not in most other states. California is also the first state to allow graduates of online law schools to take its bar exam." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_school

[RuleofLaw]

9. Nope

Liberty University is not an ABA approved school.
http://www.abanet.org/legaled/approvedlawschools/alpha.html

[RuleofLaw]

10. Lastly

These idiots can't even practice in Virginia:

"Can I take the Virginia bar exam if I did not graduate from a law school which was approved by the American Bar Association (ABA) at the time of my graduation?

No. The Board has adopted the ABA Standards for Approval of Law Schools. Thus it is unlikely that a law school which has been found not to comply with the Standards by the ABA would be approved by the Board."

http://www.vbbe.state.va.us/faq.html#4

[BurgherHoldtheLies]

11. Won't be working at Jones-Day or any other big firm

Ya, let them create their own parallel universe while they try to bad mouth the ivy leagues. It's just so ridiculous and should get no attention from the main stream media.

[icymist]

13. But what about the guys on the ferry?

I'm sure that his type would look at all your rules and regulation as nothing more than an interference to their goals.

[Khephra]

14. Ah, but you're thinking of how things ran in--as Rumsfeld would say--

Old America.

Falwell and Robertson and their ilk are getting ready for the dawn of New America.

The Religious Right isn't going to let a little thing like the ABA stop them now. They've waited this long to get in control; they're not going to give up power now or stop with their Dominionist agenda. If the ABA won't give RR what they want then they'll just make or change laws. The ABA might have control now, but the RR is real good at waiting until an opportunity presents itself to change it all. And change it all they will...if we can't stop them early on.

They've effectively taken control of the political, media, military, and corporate systems in this country. Who here really doubts that they wouldn't like to take over the entire legal apparatus too?

[Claire Beth]

20. yeah, and it is quite disturbing...n/t

[Maven]

15. No, and I can't see how they will ever be approved

Right now they're touting "provisional approval" (i.e., "application submitted.") Care to guess how many ABA members will give a stamp of approval to a "law school" that teaches the Christian equivalent of Shari'a?

By the way, their website (LU's) is pretty funny--they're trying to give it this established, serious, academic veneer complete with crimson coat of arms. What a joke.

Now I have to cleanse my computer...eww.

[noonwitch]

17. They'd love my bumper sticker "Come the Rapture, can I have your car?"

I also still have my Kerry sticker on it.

[VegasWolf]

19. How about, come the Rapture I'm taking your wife! n/t

[The Stranger]

12. This is essentially Sharia law, an effort to install a theocracy.

The names are changed but the effect is the same.

[gratuitous]

16. Will they enforce the Jubilee Year?

And the return of land to its original owners? How about the forgiveness of all indebtedness every 50th year? There used to be a rather heavy societal penalty for usury; does Mr. Falwell's law cohort intend to take on MBNA, Citicorp and other major credit card companies? How about the despicable practices of the car title loan folks and rent to own sharks? Will they seek to enforce the payment of tithes? Even on their overrich sponsors and benefactors?

Inquiring minds want to know!

[Just Me]

18. *ahem* THEOCRACY SUCKS!!!!!

Falwell and Robertson seek power in their own "right",...not in respect of Christ or in fear of God.

I can tolerate those two,...but will defend against their goal of imposing their will against me. I know for a fact that being a "Christian" fails to confer moral superiority.