Ethics panel suspends Alabama chief justice

By Bob Johnson, Associated Press, 8/23/2003

MONTGOMERY, Ala. -- Alabama's chief justice was suspended yesterday for his refusal to obey a federal court order to remove his Ten Commandments monument from the rotunda of his courthouse.

Roy Moore was automatically suspended with pay when the nine-member Judicial Inquiry Commission referred the complaint against him to the Court of the Judiciary, which holds trial-like proceedings and can discipline and remove judges.

Ruby Crowe, an assistant court clerk, said Moore will have 30 days to respond.

Moore met with the commission earlier as about 100 of his supporters, several blocks away at the federal courthouse, ripped and burned a copy of US District Judge Myron Thompson's order for the monument's removal.

Moore said he told the commission that he upheld his oath of office by acknowledging God; he has said Thompson has no authority to tell the state's chief justice to remove the monument.

Moore had no comment after his suspension was announced. His spokesman, Tom Parker, said Moore's attorneys would respond to the complaint Monday.

Thompson ruled last year that the monument, installed by Moore in a highly visible public spot in the state building, violates the constitution's ban on government promotion of a religious doctrine. When Moore refused to move it, eight associate justices overruled him.

Thompson said the monument could be moved to a private place in the building.

It remained in the rotunda yesterday as officials discussed where in the building the 5,300-pound granite marker could be moved and given proper security.

Meanwhile, lawyers who had sued to get the monument removed put their contempt filing against Moore on hold, now that Alabama Supreme Court associate justices have agreed to move the marker.

Moore supporters have held an around-the-clock vigil since Wednesday, and said they planned to continue to prevent the monument from being moved.