Attorney: Moore Decision Disregards “Rule of Law”
Lawyers for former Chief Justice Roy Moore are appealing his removal from office saying the move was a disregard for the “rule of law.” Attorneys with the Liberty Counsel, a conservative non-profit law firm out of Florida that represents Moore, filed the appeal yesterday.
It once again comes down to semantics. Among other arguments, Moore’s lead attorney, Mat Staver says removing the judge from the bench requires a unanimous vote and that the court ignored this rule. Staver referenced the decision that states, “A majority of the court agrees that the only appropriate sanction for Chief Justice Moore is removal from office.” Staver says a majority is not unanimous and thus Moore’s suspension is illegal.
However, the decision later states that, “It is the unanimous judgment of the court that Chief Justice Roy Moore be suspended without pay for the remainder of his term.”
Staver’s arguments are similar to those he made during Moore’s trial when he said the January order to probate judges telling them not to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples was merely a status report to clear up confusion. The court ultimately sided with the Judicial Inquiry Commission which argued Moore’s order defied a federal court decision.
Read the Court’s final decision on the Roy Moore trial here.
Mideast clashes breach Olympic truce as athletes gather for Winter Paralympic Games
Fighting intensified in the Middle East during the Olympic truce, in effect through March 15. Flights are being disrupted as athletes and families converge on Italy for the Winter Paralympics.
A U.S. scholarship thrills a teacher in India. Then came the soul-crushing questions
She was thrilled to become the first teacher from a government-sponsored school in India to get a Fulbright exchange award to learn from U.S. schools. People asked two questions that clouded her joy.
Sunday Puzzle: Sandwiched
NPR's Ayesha Rascoe plays the puzzle with WXXI listener Jonathan Black and Weekend Edition Puzzlemaster Will Shortz.
U.S.-Israeli strikes in Iran continue into 2nd day, as the region faces turmoil
Israel said on Sunday it had launched more attacks on Iran, while the Iranian government continued strikes on Israel and on U.S. targets in Gulf states, Iraq and Jordan.
Trump warns Iran not to retaliate after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is killed
The Iranian government has announced 40 days of mourning. The country's supreme leader was killed following an attack launched by the U.S. and Israel on Saturday against Iran.
Iran fires missiles at Israel and Gulf states after U.S.-Israeli strike kills Khamenei
Iran fired missiles at targets in Israel and Gulf Arab states Sunday after vowing massive retaliation for the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by the United States and Israel.
