For Immediate Release
June 3, 2008
Media Contact: Ray Yonkura
(202) 225-2676
Jordan Announces Online Petition Drive
Supporting Judge DeWeese Against ACLU
Washington, DC -- Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Urbana) offered his strong public support for an Ohio judge’s display that has drawn fire from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).
Last week, the ACLU filed a district court motion against Richland County Common Pleas Judge James DeWeese for posting a document that details the importance of the Ten Commandments to our nation’s legal system.
“The Ten Commandments, a cornerstone of Western law, are appropriate for a judge to display in his courtroom, where he is expected to enforce the law, promote equal justice under the law, and educate citizens about the rule of law,” Jordan said.
Earlier today, Jordan launched an online petition effort so that the community could demonstrate its support of DeWeese’s courtroom display. Jordan was the first to sign the petition, which is available at www.petitiononline.com/deweese/petition.html.
The petition reads:
We, the undersigned, support the right of Judge James DeWeese to display language found in the Ten Commandments. Ideas have consequences, and we understand that this display contrasts unchanging moral absolutes like the Ten Commandments with moral relativist precepts that allow individuals or societies to continually redefine for themselves right and wrong.
America’s founders understood the deep significance of the Ten Commandments to our legal system and the fixed duties it imposes. Throughout our history, representations of the Ten Commandments have consequently been placed in legislative chambers and courtrooms, including that of the U.S. Supreme Court.
We reject the American Civil Liberties Union’s (ACLU) chosen role as censor and thought police seeking to silence the moral absolute side of this debate with which it disagrees. We believe the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects all Americans’ freedom to express their opinions.
We call on the court to rebuff the ACLU’s censorship efforts and to protect freedom of expression.
