Just to update those of you who care, as I do, about the ongoing travails of theocrat Roy Moore, I’m pleased to report that his case can now move forward. Alabama has finally found people to sit, albeit temporarily, on the state Supreme Court to hear Moore’s appeal.
This was not necessarily a certainty. Moore, after having been thrown off the bench for violating judicial ethics, appealed to the state Supreme Court. The process became complicated when all of the remaining justices recused themselves from Moore’s case.
Fortunately, however, a new panel has been assembled, including seven retired judges, one of whom is former Alabama Gov. John Patterson, who will serve as the chief justice for this hearing.
Moore is already complaining about some the randomly-selected judges. The panel that will hear his appeal includes two judges to whom Moore’s attorneys objected, arguing that they were biased against him. (It’s Alabama; isn’t everyone in the state either biased for or against Roy Moore?)
If Moore’s appeal is successful, he will be reinstated to his previous position, chief justice of the state Supreme Court. It’s hard to know how likely or unlikely that is, since I don’t know a thing about the retired judges who will hear the appeal. Though to hear Moore tell it, two of the seven are already inclined to vote against him, so I guess that’s good news.
The hearing date has not yet been scheduled, but rest assured, I’ll keep you posted on what happens.