Deep South Judiciary Roundup

First of all, from Louisiana:

A white judge who wore blackface make-up, handcuffs and a jail jumpsuit at a Halloween party will be suspended for six months, the Louisiana Supreme Court ruled on Monday.

The justices voted 5-2 to suspend Judge Timothy Ellender for a year without pay for dishonouring his position, but to defer half of that penalty. Ellender will lose more than $50,000 in pay, one judge noted.

Which two justices voted against this?

Ellender, who is white, testified the costumes worn by him and his wife -- she was dressed as a police officer -- were meant only as a joke to show he was her prisoner.

The justices agreed Ellender did not mean to insult blacks.

Nevertheless, they ordered him to take a sociology course "which will assist him in achieving a greater understanding of racial sensitivity".

Ummm...Couldn't he have been a white prisoner without resorting to all of the minstrel show bullshit? And, please. "The justices agreed Ellender did not mean to insult blacks?" Is there a non-offensive way to take a guy in blackface dressed as a prisoner? Something tells me that the sociology class is going to be a hoot.

Next up on the deep south judiciary roundup. Alabama.

A judge refused to delay a trial Tuesday when an attorney objected to his wearing a judicial robe with the Ten Commandments embroidered on the front in gold.

Here's a few pictures. The robe itself:

And the judge posing with it. Guess justice truly is blind.

What is it about Alabama, anyway? I mean, they had the one ton Franklin Mint Edition of the Word of God there, and this guy is so obviously trying to steal the Judge Roy Moore spotlight.

The case raised comparisons to former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore, who was removed from office in 2003 for refusing to remove a Ten Commandments monument from the rotunda of the Alabama Judicial Building in Montgomery.

Moore said Tuesday he supports McKathan's decision to wear the Ten Commandments robe.

"I applaud Judge McKathan. It is time for our judiciary to recognize the moral basis of our law," Moore said.

Then again it is Alabama...

"This court finds you guilty of taking the name of Dale Earnhardt in vain. You are hereby sentenced to an eternal roasting in the tar pits of hell. May the lord who sent these tablets embroidered on my robe have mercy on your soul. (Bangs gavel) Bailiff, please remand this man to the green room of purgatory." GIT-R-DONE!