Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Sheriff furious with judges after being told to remove American flag display from courthouse
Fox4KC ^ | 3/11/2015

Posted on 03/12/2015 4:55:56 PM PDT by Altura Ct.

Portsmouth Sheriff Bill Watson says he is furious after a group of judges told him to take down an American flag display.

Sheriff Watson said his agency got the American flag display as a gift from members of the Portsmouth Fire Department a few weeks ago.

It’s made of old fire hoses which a sign beneath it that reads, “A Tribute to Public Safety.”

Watson said he requested to have it mounted on the wall in the lobby of the courthouse but was shocked by what he was told.

Watson said he was told, “Not only do we not want it on the wall, we don’t want it in the courthouse.”

Watson said, “I just can’t believe that they don’t want to display the American flag in a courthouse, I mean that’s the most asinine thing I’ve ever heard in my life.”

NewsChannel 3 spoke with a judge who didn’t want to be identified about the issue. The judge told us it was decided that the lobby of the courthouse is not the appropriate place for the display.

He said they don’t want any display or memorial of it’s kind positioned in the lobby when people walk into the courthouse.

The judge said if you allow one type of display, then you will have to allow all types.

The judge said having the display in the lobby sets the wrong precedent. The decision is upsetting Watson and others.

Watson said, “They expect my deputies to put their life on the line for a judge. If somebody was going to come into a courtroom with a gun, the deputy is supposed to stand in front of the judge and take a bullet, but yet they won’t let us have our flag, saluting public safety? To me, that’s a slap in the face.”

The judge told News Channel 3 the sheriff can hang whatever he wants in his office, which is located on the first floor of the building next to the lobby.

Watson says if it comes to it, he will mount the flag in the window of his office and would rather be sent to jail than take it down.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; US: Virginia
KEYWORDS: americanflag; virginia
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-49 next last

1 posted on 03/12/2015 4:55:56 PM PDT by Altura Ct.
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Altura Ct.
A country, built on freedom, in which you cannot fly its flag.

I'd say this is the height of absurdity but I know something else will come along before best it.

2 posted on 03/12/2015 4:59:00 PM PDT by 9thLife ("Life is a military endeavor..." -- Pope Francis)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 9thLife

Only in America would it be illegal to fly your own nation’s flag!


3 posted on 03/12/2015 5:01:59 PM PDT by Roman_War_Criminal
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Altura Ct.
The judge said if you allow one type of display, then you will have to allow all types.

Only if you're a liberal idiot......

4 posted on 03/12/2015 5:04:21 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Altura Ct.

Well, these judges can resign, because they are sworn to uphold the laws of the United States. They might as well get on a plane to Russia


5 posted on 03/12/2015 5:05:06 PM PDT by realcleanguy
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Altura Ct.

6 posted on 03/12/2015 5:05:14 PM PDT by smoothsailing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Roman_War_Criminal

Nicely put.


7 posted on 03/12/2015 5:05:32 PM PDT by Scrambler Bob (/s /s /s /s /s, my replies are "liberally" sprinkled with them behind every word and letter.!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Altura Ct.
it can't be THAT hard to figure out who the black robed scumbag is
8 posted on 03/12/2015 5:05:49 PM PDT by Chode (Stand UP and Be Counted, or line up and be numbered - *DTOM* -w- NO Pity for the LAZY - 86-44)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: DJ MacWoW

There are morals, religion, common sense, and then the “law”.


9 posted on 03/12/2015 5:12:49 PM PDT by Secret Agent Man (Gone Galt; Not averse to Going Bronson.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 4 | View Replies]

To: Altura Ct.
They don't want any display in the Lobby. None...."0"

He can put it in his office which is right there in the building. Pretty simple solution.

10 posted on 03/12/2015 5:16:04 PM PDT by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Altura Ct.

A reporter must have the courage to publish the judge’s name and the other judges’ names. A judge doesn’t have the authority to say something off the record outside a courtroom. Even then, it’s the media’s decision whether the public is best informed if a matter should be published.


11 posted on 03/12/2015 5:23:14 PM PDT by namvolunteer (Obama says the US is subservient to the UN and the Constitution does not apply. That is treason.r)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Secret Agent Man

This has nothing to do with the law. It has everything to do with being liberal idiots.


12 posted on 03/12/2015 5:23:19 PM PDT by DJ MacWoW (The Fed Gov is not one ring to rule them all)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: Altura Ct.

The judge said if you allow one type of display, then you will have to allow all types.
___
No you don’t, you anti-America idiot.


13 posted on 03/12/2015 5:29:23 PM PDT by lakecumberlandvet (APPEASEMENT NEVER WORKS.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: namvolunteer

A search shows Sheriff Bill Wayson’s office being in this building. Three judhges are listed in the directory.

http://www.portsmouthva.gov/CircuitCourtClerk/directory.aspx

Honorable Johnny E. Morrison, Chief Judge

Honorable James C. Hawks

Honorable Kenneth R. Melvin, Chief Judge


14 posted on 03/12/2015 5:30:25 PM PDT by smoothsailing
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 11 | View Replies]

To: Altura Ct.
"The judge said if you allow one type of display, then you will have to allow all types. "

Maybe the judge is right. If this fire hose American flag is displayed in the courthouse, then soon the gays will want their flag up there also. God only knows what their flag would be made out of.

15 posted on 03/12/2015 5:40:33 PM PDT by 1_Rain_Drop
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Altura Ct.
That Judge.....he owns the courthouse..?? It's his??

Maybe the Mayor or the town council has an opinion....

16 posted on 03/12/2015 5:41:44 PM PDT by unread
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: smoothsailing

Probably should remove the “Honorable” from before their names.


17 posted on 03/12/2015 5:57:23 PM PDT by RetiredTexasVet (When Socialism changes to Communism: When they take your guns and bring out theirs.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Altura Ct.

Don’t ever take the bullet for commie judges or politicans.


18 posted on 03/12/2015 6:01:24 PM PDT by SaraJohnson
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Altura Ct.
The judge said if you allow one type of display, then you will have to allow all type

No, you don't.

Next stupid excuse?

19 posted on 03/12/2015 6:05:10 PM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear (Proud Infidel, Gun Nut, Religious Fanatic and Freedom Fiend)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Altura Ct.

The United States of Police and local government bureaucrats, eh? The “thin blue line” and fire hose are desecrations of our United States flag.

http://www.usflag.org/uscode36.html
UNITED STATES CODE
TITLE 36
CHAPTER 10
§176. Respect for flag
“(g) The flag should never have placed upon it, nor on any part of it, nor attached to it any mark, insignia, letter, word, figure, design, picture, or drawing of any nature.”

[...]

UNITED STATES CODE
TITLE 4
CHAPTER 1 - THE FLAG

§1. Flag; stripes and stars on
The flag of the United States shall be thirteen horizontal stripes, alternate red and white; and the union of the flag shall be forty-eight stars, white in a blue field.

[...]


20 posted on 03/12/2015 6:15:22 PM PDT by familyop (We Baby Boomers are croaking in an avalanche of corruption smelled around the planet.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-4041-49 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson