One Place to Never Say 'Thank You, Jesus'
Go ahead and thank the good Lord, but if you're in a courtroom, you might want to do it silently. Junior Stowers of Honolulu, Hawaii, learned that lesson the hard way when he raised his hands and exclaimed, "Thank you, Jesus!" when he learned a jury had found him not guilty of abusing his 15-year-old son, specifically hitting him with a broomstick last January. But after that outburst, Circuit Judge Patrick Border held him contempt of court and threw him in jail, reports The Associated Press.
Stowers remained in the cellblock for six hours until the judge scheduled a hearing on the contempt charge, which is a misdemeanor carrying up to 30 days in jail. Later at that hearing, the charge was dropped, but his attorney insists her client was not treated fairly. "I don't think there's anything about saying 'Thank you, Jesus' that rises to the level of contemptuous behavior in this case," Deputy Public Defender Susan Arnett told The Honolulu Advertiser. Stowers, 47, is a devoutly religious man who is active in his Assembly of God church.
The judge said the only reason he dropped the contempt charge is because he learned Stowers attorney did not have time to tell him to display emotion when the verdict was announced.
2006-07-18 15:15:42 · 26 answers · asked by Doug B 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
I don't think the Judges decision had anything to do with the content of the mans statement. The Judge was just angry that he made a statement when he should have been instructed not to. If I begin praying loudly in a movie theater, it would not be that I was praying to God that got me kicked out it, it would be that I was disturbing others. The Judge felt that this man was disturbing his courtroom. Worshiping the Lord is our right, but it cannot interfere with the proceedings of a court room. Now, I'm not sure that what the man did was worthy of a contempt charge. But when you are in a courtroom the Judges rules must be respected, or he will make you respect them.
2006-07-18 15:27:22 · answer #1 · answered by jffrwlnd 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
People like Mr. Stowers make Jesus and Christians look like idiots. I'm embarrassed for him, his family, for Jesus, and for me because I'm a Christian.
I work in the legal profession, by the way, and outbursts in court are not allowed, and in most courts the judge instructs everyone in the courtroom to keep silent before, during and after a verdict is read. Mr. Stowers could have thanked Jesus at any time, and not necessarily out loud either. He was just trying to showing everyone how "holy" and "righteous" he is.
I have to go puke now.
2006-07-18 15:22:35 · answer #2 · answered by No Shortage 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What a waste of the court systems time. The guy shouldn't have had the outburst, but generally there is a warning from the bench. I imagine that was a pretty stressful trial for the man. It would be a big sigh of relief to be found not guilty, and I can't say that I wouldn't be excited too. I would hope that I could hold my tongue though until I got outside especially in that judges courtroom!
2006-07-20 04:43:55 · answer #3 · answered by pottersclay70 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't see anything wrong with the judge's reaction. There were a lot of people who worked on that case on his behalf. People investigated and weighed evidence and took time away from their families to participate in his hearing. While one might have strong religious convictions, I think it is rude to thank no one but jesus.
I also think that people have learned about seperation of church and state - and folks have died for it - they should measure their words more carefully. If that judge was of another faith, he might find the defendants remarks very offensive (as a christian might if he thought someone presumed to say Allah was manipulating him).
No man is an island and none of us live in a vaccuum. We must all take each other's feelings and rights into account in a public setting, don't you agree?
Peace!
2006-07-18 15:27:40 · answer #4 · answered by carole 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes it is ridiculous... he should not have been charged with contempt in the first place...
but.. I'm not familiar with the laws in Hawaii concerning courtroom procedure... I believe that maybe there are not to be any people speaking except as the judge selects... or perhaps to get the attention of the judge...
so... he may have been out of order... and should have waited for the judge to release the court.
2006-07-18 15:21:16 · answer #5 · answered by ♥Tom♥ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The judge is allowed to enforce rules of order in the court. The judge would have done the same if the defendant jumped up and shouted," Thank you, Satan!" But I guess the defendant wants to viewed as a martyr.
2006-07-18 15:33:23 · answer #6 · answered by Beavis Christ AM 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The display of emotion was the contempt charge, not the Jesus thing! Sheesh, way to read it wrong. You can say "thank you, Jesus" in court, you just can't tell others to thank Him or make it a law that you thank Him if you get off on a charge.............. blow it out of proportion why don't you
2006-07-18 15:21:08 · answer #7 · answered by Ananke402 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Everything until that last sentence sort of made sense to me. I don't have anything against somebody shouting "thank you,[prefered deity]!!" especially after being acquitted of child abuse. But rules are rules, and in a courtroom I would think you have to keep your excitement low-key.
That last sentence, though... maybe, just like in a religious service, no outbursts of any kind are allowed until after the 'service is over.'
2006-07-18 15:23:56 · answer #8 · answered by O M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well... when ther verdict is good and you confuse the judge names with jesus name, then of course you are in contempt of court
2006-07-18 15:19:18 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No one is ever going to tell me I can say" thank you Jesus" I say it several times a day, and out loud too. That judge was an idiot.
2006-07-18 15:21:29 · answer #10 · answered by Carol M 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋