We have another judge who has decided to create his own system of criminal punishment with novel sentencing. Oklahoma judge Mike Norman has magnified this increasingly common form of judicial abuse by adding compelled religious observance to sentence. Norman deferred a prison sentence for Tyler Alred, 17, in exchange for his agreement to attend church for 10 years. Norman observed “[t]he Lord works in many ways,” including it appears through him and his court. While many would view the imposition of religious observance in a criminal sentence as something akin to an American Taliban court, Norman insists that he has judicially ordered religious practices in the past.
Alred pleaded guilty to an August crash that killed his friend and passenger John Luke Dum. Alred had been drinking before the accident.
As in many of these cases, there is no one in the case to challenge the obvious constitutional violation since both the prosecutor and the family support the sentence. The agreement of the prosecutors shows an ethical and professional failure to protect the integrity of the legal system.
Norman admitted that “There are a lot of people who say I can’t do what I did. They’re telling me I can’t legally sentence someone to church.” Well, yes, that would be anyone who reads and believes in the Constitution.
Norman is a member of First Baptist Church in Muskogee and said that “I told my preacher I thought I led more people to Jesus than he had.” Of course, that is his preacher’s job.
I have written columns (here and here and here) and blogs articles (here and here and here and here and here) criticizing this worrisome trend, though the most serious such cases involve judges like Norman who try to bring “more people to Jesus” while carrying out his duties as a judicial officer. These judges make a mockery out of our court system and sit like little Caesars in meting out their own idiosyncratic forms of justice — often to the thrill of citizens. They degrade not just their courts in such novel sentencing but the legal system as a whole. This judge appears to relish his reputation as the gavel of God — sending felons to embrace faith.
In the meantime, other judges, prosecutors, and the state bar remain silent in the face of this judicial abuse. I can understand a judge ignoring the most fundamental principles of our Constitution and our profession. What I cannot understand is an entire bar that just stands by silently as he imposes religious-based sentences. I have often spoken to the Oklahoma bar members and I have previously stated my love for the state. I am saddened to see the lack of action taken against Norman in a bar with so many talented and respected lawyers.
Source: ABC as first seen on ABA Journal
I have no problem at all with probation and compulsory servitude in a church or secular place that might fashion a person into a better person. I myself might prefer four hours at the jail than four at the church, but that is one’s own preference. The judge dun right by the boy.
For he was born in Oklahoma, his wife’s name is Betty Lou Thelma Liz, He’s not responsible for what he’s doin, his mother made him what he is.
Its up against the wall Redneck Mothers, Mothers who have raised their sons so well…
He’s 34 and drinking in honky tonks, kickin hippies asses and raisin hell.
–Jerry Jeff Walker, Good Ol Boys
It is Oklahoma after all….
If the kid were black or chicano you can bet his young ass would be in jail. It’s stinks of one of those, “Oh, Little So-and-so’s from a ‘good family,'” things. It is classism and smalltown cronyism at its worst. The judge should be impeached and disbarred!
I didn’t think this story would still be unposted by this weekend.
He could go to a UU church, like many atheists do.
Can we “sentence” the Judge to a class on constitutional law or maybe a day trip to Monticello? Or Afghanistan? I’d say Heaven too, but he apparently already has a ticket reserved.
Yep, what Mike said
“While the sentencing does indeed demand that Alred attends church every single week for ten years, the judge will allow Alred to choose which church to attend. Because he’s not forcing the 17-year-old to attend a specific religious institution, Norman’s sentencing for Alred is apparently legal.
……..
In the courtroom this week, an emotional scene between the victim’s family and Alred played out after statements from Dum’s mother, father and two sisters were read during the sentencing. Dum’s father and Alred stood up in court, turned toward each other and embraced one another.
“At that moment, it sure became a reality to me that I would sentence this boy to church” to help set him on the right path, Norman, a member of First Baptist Church in Muskogee, said. “There’s nothing I can do to make this up to the family.
….
After completing the rest of the requirements in his sentence, Alred will have the charge removed from his record.”
http://www.examiner.com/article/judge-sentences-teen-to-attend-church-for-10-years-after-manslaughter-conviction
“I think the explanation here is the widespread persistence of a view that religious practice is strongly correlated with morally desirable behavior.”
I agree with Mfitch on this and carried out to its logical extent it is an example of self-serving arrogance on the Judges part, since he is presenting himself and his church as moral paragons. The sentence is terribly un-Constitutional but won’t be overturned. The venue is no doubt a religious one so who is to object and by using these illegal sentencing guidelines the Judge is likely to remain in office with public approval As for the Oklahoma bar, perhaps the climate in that State is such that one risks their careers by seeming to be Ati-God? Finally, cynic that I am, it is hard for me to believe that there is some sort of interrelationship that this Judge has for this young man as in “the fix was in”.
I think the explanation here is the widespread persistence of a view that religious practice is strongly correlated with morally desirable behavior. Even after being presented with evidence that such a correlation is weak, at best (or even statistically non-existent), people continue to believe it because it just “makes sense” to them.
Let the boy and the judge share the same cell……….
What type of judicial temperment would you expect from Larry “Bud” Mehlman?
Sorry, “Alred,” not “Adler.”
Unconstitutional, yes.
“[It’s] part of a deferred prison sentence for manslaughter in a fatal car crash….. Norman also required Alred to finish high school and complete welding school.”
Looks like the judge was trying to give the kid a break. Turn your mind off for an hour a week for 10 years or 10 years in jail? Of course, the jail option is open to early release.
If the defendant is not already inclined to attend church, this just might remove him totally from religion. Inappropriate punishment creates resentment. And the judge sounds more than a little arrogant.
What counts as “attending?” Walking in and walking out? Once a month? Once a year? How is the judge going to verify this attendance? What assurance do we have this will discourage Adler’s future drunk driving in any way? If Adler claims he attended some church, how will that be proven false?
This sounds like a miscarriage of justice, to me, a non-punishment imposed for a reckless killing.
“What I cannot understand is an entire bar that just stands by silently as he imposes religious-based sentences.”
Do the churches understand they are part of the problem if they participate?
Of course they know they are part of the problem, but if it brings in more cash and members, who cares? Getting money for the church is the name of the game. Just as is true in all religions.
It all depends on the church. Now if he wants a great party time, he can go to some of the more prominent Baptist Churches since they say one thing on Sunday, and party hearty the rest of the week. Jimmy Swagart comes to miind as a great place, though he is not Baptist, but with a little due diligence, I am sure he can find the local kind of church like his. Oral Roberts U would also be a good place, but he would have to get into the inner circle to get to the good stuff.
Anyone dedicated to protecting the Constitution should be completely appalled by this “judge’s” actions. It’s so blatantly and ridiculously unconstitutional that when I read this story yesterday, my only reaction was “You’ve got to be kidding. This is surely a piece by The Onion once again misreported as news.” Sadly, not the case.
Would it have been OK if he had sentenced him to Mosque weekly?
I’m sure this will be great as no criminal ever went to church on a regular basis & no crimes have ever been committed by anyone who has received the word of the lord.
He might just as well sentence the guy to sit in the corner for an hour every week
Bless the boys heart. And the judge.