Ten Commandments Judge Faces Complaint Accusing Him of Praying in Court

Associated Press
Published: August 15, 2008

    ANDALUSIA, Ala. (AP) - An Alabama judge who once wore the Ten
Commandments embroidered on his robe has been accused of violating
judicial ethics for ordering a group in his courtroom to hold hands
and pray.
    A complaint filed by the American Civil Liberties Union accuses
Covington County Judge Ashley McKathan of violating ethics rules
and the U.S. Constitution.
    The complaint says McKathan dropped to his knees and prayed
aloud during a court hearing in February, telling 100 people in the
courtroom that he was not afraid to call on the name of Jesus
Christ. The hearing was for a case in which the pastor and several
deacons of Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Monroeville
sued the church’s former secretary to gain possession of financial
records.
    Four years ago, McKathan donned the Ten Commandments robe to
publicly acknowledge his belief that the law is based on more than
just words written in law books.