Roy Moore removed from bench

Published 12:00 am Friday, November 14, 2003

Alabama's Chief Justice is now its former Chief Justice. With a unanimous ruling by the Alabama Court of the Judiciary, the Court found that Moore "willfully and publicly" defied a federal court order that directed him to remove a 1-ton granite monument of the Ten Commandments from the Rotunda of the Alabama Judicial Building.

In its ruling, the Court found that the case had "clear and convincing evidence" that Moore had defied the federal court order, and that they had "no other viable alternatives" than to remove Moore from office.

After the verdict, John Giles, one of Moore's staunchest supporters, and president of the Alabama Christian Coalition, said that he wasn't surprised at the verdict.

"I woke up this morning with my heart darkened," Giles said. "What they have done is reduced the oath of office to ceremonial exercises."

Moore, in his address to the crowd gathered outside the judicial building, also said he wasn't surprised by the verdict.

"No, I'm not surprised with the verdict," he said. was founded on."

Moore, still defiant in his speech, said "It has been said I am guilty because I will do it again and I am unrepentant.

"I have no regrets, and I have asked Congress to place the monument in the Capitol Building, as a symbol of what our country," he continued.

Moore also reiterated his belief that the Ten Commandments are a source of laws and liberty in the United States - a statement that has swayed from an earlier statement, when more said they were the foundation.

Although the Court of the Judiciary removed Moore from the bench, he has not exhausted all of his options.

Moore can appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court, but did not say if he would.