Republican Judge Sworn in on a Dictionary (No Bible could be found)

Short News ^ | 01/04/2010

[Between the Lines]

New York: Incoming Ulster County judge Donald A. Williams has been sworn into office with his left hand on a dictionary instead of a book of scripture.

When the time came to swear in Williams, a Republican, no Bible could be found so the former district attorney took his oath on a dictionary. Williams was unconcerned by the substitution, saying that the swearing-in is ceremonial only.

There is no requirement for officials to be sworn in on a Bible but most choose to do so, many with their own family Bible. The substitution in this case reportedly injected 'a light moment' into the solemn ceremony.

[DJ MacWoW]

Did you bother checking this guy out or simply judge him on a snafu? I started reading about him. Found that he served on the Board of Directors of the Boy Scouts. Must be a REALLY bad man.

[martin_fierro]

Was it at least a...

[antiRepublicrat]

I think it would be great if we switched from the Bible to the Constitution. Seems that we have a lot in government who believe in the Bible, but think the Constitution is worthless.

[antiRepublicrat]

The one book that never appears on the liberal American Library Ass' "banned book week" list

It makes one wonder, since it has a lot of what is considered "objectionable material" in it.

[trickyricky]

"The substitution in this case reportedly injected 'a light moment' into the solemn ceremony."

SOLEMN:
1 : marked by the invocation of a religious sanction (a solemn oath)
2 : marked by the observance of established form or ceremony;
specifically : celebrated with full liturgical ceremony.

The foundation of our country is Jehovah GOD.
If He is considered non-essential in America, I will cheer it's destruction.

[RonF]

That’s actually a good idea too. But then, the Supreme Court found a right to abortion in the Constitution. So I’d still want that dictionary in there.

[ricmc2175]

Anyone suprised they could not find a Bible in a Courthouse?

[Between the Lines]

Stuff like this happens all the time with ‘RATS; we never hear about it. Initially I thought ‘that's strange, a Republican did that’ but I missed the obvious explanation.

There were many articles about this incident on the net. This is the only one that mentions any political affiliation, which is why I posted it.

[Old Landmarks]

Seems that we have a lot in government who falsely claim to believe what the Bible says while rejecting it and systematically demonizing all those who really do believe what the Bible says believe in the Bible, and who also claim to uphold the constitution but actually think the constitution but think the Constitution is worthless.

Let me summarize.

Religious liberals and others who openly hate the Bible are extremely prone to hate the real constitution as well since they are basically lawless humanists (sometimes using religious wording for window dressing) who reject the God who is their Creator and lawgiver.

[Navy Patriot]

I suppose it would be to much to ask that the judge show up with his own Bible just in case.

[Cicero]

The important thing about taking the Oath of Office is that it is a solemn Oath.

The traditional Christian belief was that if you violated a solemnly sworn oath to God, you went to Hell.

Well, I don’t know how much leverage that has with many people these days. But that’s certainly the kind of solemn oath you want—something that will be taken seriously, so seriously that a violation means the loss of salvation.

That’s why, for instance, a POTUS swears to uphold the Constitution, but swears to do it on the Bible. The Bible is not necessary, but it’s a reminder that this is an oath taken with God as witness—and enforcer.

[DJ MacWoW]

He actually ran as an Independent on the Republican ticket. He ran against a woman judge that was appointed by Paterson that had never tried a felony case.

[Mr. K]

of coure nit! how else could I do the customry knee-jerk reaction

But if it did not seem silly to him, to swear on a dictionary instead of the bible, then he is not conservative ENOUGH

[DJ MacWoW]

He didn’t run as a Conservative. He ran as an Independent.

[DJ MacWoW]

And the swearing in was a formality as he’s already on the bench. He replaced a Dem appointment by Paterson.

[Old Landmarks]

Liberals have spent decades of brainwashing efforts to remove any and all understanding that their is a God who actually can and will judge sin to which most liberals devote their lives, which of course includes Lying Under Oath.

To them, (not to those who gave us the constitution and other very important things like taking a real oath to God) the only view of reality upon which our freedoms could stand was the world view that their was a Creator to whom we will answer, (even for things meaningless to liberals, such lying under oath).

All exceptions only prove the rule.

[Between the Lines]

Thanks for the background info!

[fortheDeclaration]

I guess witnesses don't have be sworn in either?

Maybe we should let them use any book they want as well.

[Huskrrrr]

If the judge would agree to adjudicate cases in such a fashion that the definitions of the words in the laws were accepted as they are found in the dictionary instead of how liberal/politically-correct types want them re-defined (e.g., the word “right”) I’d propose that EVERY judge be sworn in on a dictionary.

Great point! That certainly works for me.

[DJ MacWoW]

You’re welcome.