Update: Charges Dropped Against Prayer and Pledge-Defending Court Clerk
- Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:41pm by
Billy Hallowell
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County Clerk Natalie Nichols and Judge Sterling Lacy
In New Boston, Texas, a very public debate between Bowie County Judge Sterling Lacy and County Clerk Natalie Nichols over prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance has finally been settled.
Last week, The Blaze reported on the local controversy, which quickly made its way onto the national stage. Allow me to recap.
Before the court begins its official business each day, it recites the Pledge of Allegiance and says a prayer. Despite this regular occurrence, Judge Lacy has purportedly sought to exclude prayer and pledge recitations from the official record of proceedings.
As a number of outlets have reported, Nichols disagreed with Judge Lacy‘s stance and she refused to erase the pledge and the prayer from the meeting’s minutes (after all, they occurred and she contended that they should be reflected in official records). During a meeting that surrounded this subject, the situation between the two parties became heated.
Following Nichols making her stance on the issue known, the judge filed a complaint with the County Sheriff, which alleged that the County Clerk had disrupted proceedings. The potential penalty for her actions? Fines — even jail time. Nichols responded by filing an assault complaint, alleging that the judge barged into her office and wouldn’t allow her to keep him out.
Despite this legal drama, the case is now closed and both complaints have officially been dropped. KTBS.com reports:
Observers of the dispute say the judge wanted the minutes out of the minutes to guard against litigation by the ACLU and to avoid giving the impression the commission was taking an official stance on prayer. Lacy declined comment on that part of the issue.
Below, watch Nichols discuss the conclusion of the case on Fox News:
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Comments (73)
ReviveOurNation
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:29pmNot only did they want County Clerk Nichols to exclude prayer and pledge in current minutes, they also wanted her to go into previously approved minutes and remove references to prayer and pledge there as well, which would have been against the law. I applaud her for standing her ground.
Report Post »apollo11
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:54pmGood thing the judge dropped this. The ACLU is nothing compared to what kind of heat the american and people of Texas would have put on him.
Report Post »banjarmon
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 12:43amPrayer WORKS!!!
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 6:26amquestion. are they still having a prayer????
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on August 5, 2011 at 9:32amAnd I thank God that the Judge appears to have rethunk his opinion .It seems when the Christians and the Patriots take a stand to defend Our Country, Laws, and way o’ life –The Gates of Hell shall not prevail.I thank God for this good woman– and for those who were moved to stand for her and with her.
Report Post »TheCenturion
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 12:37pmTo OLD WHITE GUY,
I live in New Boston, and the answer is yes. We are in the heart of the Bible Belt, and the people won’t stand for freedom FROM religion.
Report Post »BowHuntingTexas
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:18pmLooks like true Americans are all women these days.
Pat Tillman was the last man that I can recall.
Report Post »HD Veteran
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:22pm…sure seems to be trending that way….
Report Post »Julie2010
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:33pmWhere are real men with leadership?
Report Post »The46Percent2008
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:58pmNot sure if you heard, but the military is mostly men and MOSTLY men have died in the wars on terror. Plenty of men out there, but they’re on the battlefield. Where are the civilian men standing up for what’s right? Marco Rubio is on. Gov. Jindle is another. Rick Perry is another one. Thomas Sowell is another. They are out there, but all you hear about is what the media wants you to hear about. Instead of praising the troops, they are more concerned about Amy Whinehouse’s death. The Tea Party must rise even more to help save our country from going the way of Europe.
Report Post »ACLUHater
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:07pmMen’s parts are shrinking and women are growing things that God did not intend. There is NO reversing this madness.
Report Post »Eblaze44
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:13pmAll those women getting abortions must not be Americans.
Report Post »Meyvn
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 10:00pmPretty much, and all we’re only allowed is small victories, with the fems. And this is one. God Bless Her!! If this comes down to a mans war lots of people are gonna die. Mark my words.
Report Post »oneshiner
Posted on August 6, 2011 at 8:37amGood comment about women. Makes me think we need God loving women as President who aren’t afraid of their own shadow or of offending someone because we believe in Jesus as our Saviour. Hmmm? Do a couple of women come to mind? Leave out God and it becomes a total disaster.
Report Post »Dinkiecb
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:18pmShe was correct in including everything in the meeting minutes as required by law, and in NOT deleting public minutes records. I can see where the judge not wanting to have the ACLU marching in, but by the same token, if he was so worried about it he could have approached the whole thing differently with out drawing attention to himself and her. What did he expect her to do..break the law and delete part of a public record…how stupid … I’m glad she fought back!!!!!! And I hope they continue the process of a prayer and the pledge!
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:39pmIt’s no different from the atheist suit to eradicate the “naturally” occurred cross that formed from the girders of one of the WTC towers after they fell. “Removing from the record” is the leftist/atheist way of gradually eroding all reference to religion as a means of devaluing it and marginalizing it. It’s one of most insidious and detestable strategies lefties and atheists have ever devised in their war against “religion”. And let’s be clear about this..it’s a war against Christianity primarily.
Report Post »rox
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:29pmShouldn’t this judge be disbarred?
Report Post »Phoenixsoulfire
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:58pmPeople need to learn their rights so they can stop being afraid the of the bullies ACLU and progressives.
Report Post »Patrick in AZ
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:01pmGood for her for standing her ground
Report Post »Poogie
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:28pmI agree. Good for her! And I hope others will follow suit if/when they are being bullied by the ACLU as well.
Report Post »Eblaze44
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 7:15pmYes, make sure they got to public run union controlled schools and have that Professor of Constitutional Law Obama teach them.
Report Post »Kerri g
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:53pmYou know the Constitution says nothing about not being able to pray or show your faith in any way you want on public property or any where else. It only says what the govt. can not do. So, I say every town in the country should get together no matter what religion you are and converge on the town square for a good old fashioned prayer meetin. You know, light canles and just pray for our country. It’s time we all “let that little light of yours shine” You want your religouse freedom back? You are going to have to take it back. You think the left and govt are just going to hand it to you? Me thinks not. Anyone from Baytown, Texas interested? Won’t take long to find a very large group. let me know, I’m in.
Report Post »lynda1276
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:50pmevery once and awhile something goes right.
Report Post »Paul G
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:02pmEvery once in a while…..
Report Post »sundance_sp
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:47pmI find it kind of funny (odd) that I find agreement with both the judge and the county clerk on this issue. My reaction to the original story was that it seemed that the county clerk was trying just another one of those far left radical tricks to try and make a “statement” against the practice of prayer and pledge of allegiance in the courtroom. Now it appears that they both had strong and legal arguments regarding the recording of it in the courtroom. It’s sad when a situation like this comes up because, after all, they both did the right thing when it came down to it, in or at least in my opinion. My only concern is now, is in to see if this situation may cause the judge to no longer perform the allegiance and a prayer now, which is just not right.
Report Post »suzpenn
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:42pmMore to the point – this judge should be removed, the charges should have never been filed!
Report Post »Marylou7
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:37pmGood for her. Enough has been erased already. Our grandchildren may never know our true history.
Report Post »Texas Hills Patriot
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:33pmThis judge is a coward, fearing that the ACLU will object. This is getting old. Every time those clowns at the ACLU look cross-eyed at someone, they cower and give in, rather than standing up for what is right.
Report Post »wisehiney
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:31pmJim Bowie and my ancestor Richardson Perry who fought alongside him in the Alamo would be proud. I know I am. Thank you Natalie.
Report Post »Taquoshi
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:22pmThis is so wrong from a legal standpoint. If the judge can have the prayer and the pledge removed from the minutes once the court is called to order, can he insert or removed other things, such as key testimony? If something happens during a meeting, it should be reflected in the minutes. Otherwise the minutes are not accurate.
Report Post »Jaycen
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:40pmRight. The judge was gutless, and ready to bow to pressure that didn’t even exist. That guy should not be a judge.
Report Post »Alan
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:18pmanother activist liberal bullying judge, who got caught misbehaving in the light of day
Report Post »countryfirst
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:15pm“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…”
— The First Amendment
I do not see how it can be interpreted that you can not not pray or show your faith in a governemt building. We allow the few to dictate differently
Report Post »jim
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:10pmCounty Clerk Natalie Nichols is an American hero… she deserves a statue in her town square. Think about it, she faced JAIL TIME for simply doing what’s right, doing what she was always taught by her family, church, principles. Sign of our sick, sad, deteriorating times when normal good values threaten our existence. Where is the turnaround in this society, folks? When Obama leaves? Even if he goes, the communist ACLU will have at it, as they surely will in this case, to keep the stone around our necks… destroying our decaying way of life.
Report Post »afishfarted
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:17pmseems to me the judge was wroking FOR the ACLU by erasing the normal proceedings. If they can erase the pledge and prayer from the minutes, future generations will be taught that those recitals were enver part of our history
Report Post »jim
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:10pmYes, even worse, if that’s the case… a judge in cahoots to rub out our history! This is why Soros and the other powerful socialists put big money behind getting judges elected, I suppose… a judge makes critical day-to-day decisions where the rubber meets the road.
Report Post »randy
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:09pmSomeone needs to tap this lady for the Vice Presidency in 2012
Report Post »jollylama
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:07pmHere’s the verse of the day: Matthew 10:33 – But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:14pmSatan is in power as we post
http://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/esp_sociopol_brotherhoodsecretsocieties.htm
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:51pmWhere is he, Bohemian Grove?
Report Post »This_Individual
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:28pmCan you post that verse in it’s original language, please?
Report Post »AvengerK
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 6:58pmThis_Individual…you want the verse in it’s original tongue? That would be Greek as the original texts were written in Greek, not Hebrew. Greek was the scholarly language of the day even in Roman controlled Israel, much like French used to hold a prominent position even though English may have been the language spoken. In fact Luke’s Greek is excellent which is why his Gospel carries so much historical weight. You want it in Greek? Sure..phonetically it reads:
Report Post »Allla opios me dioxsi brosta to anthropon, thah ton dioxso brosta ton patera mou o en tis oranis. Again..not being able to offer actual Greek characters, I am forced to give you the verse phonetically from the Greek to English. I speak fluent Greek and I’m educated enough to know the original texts of the new testament were written in Greek. Now what’s your point?
Texas Grasshopper
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:06pmglad I called them !!!
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:05pmMs. Nichols,
Report Post »Thanks for standing strong. More people need to follow your example.
affinnity
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:04pmGood for her.
Report Post »Realman30
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:58pmNatalie Nichols is a Good American.
Report Post »pavepaws
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 5:44pmBrains and looks!
Report Post »4smohrs
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:50pmCharges dropped today……..hmm probably not looking so good for tomorrow!
Report Post »republic2011
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:49pmNatalie, God Bless you! Thank you for standing your ground. You are an inspiration to us all. God Bless America!!!
Report Post »spirited
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:48pmObservers of the dispute say the judge wanted
the minutes out of the minutes
to guard against litigation by the ACLU and to avoid giving the impression the commission was taking an official stance on prayer.
—————————————–
>Or, maybe (just maybe) make this a very public issue so that the ACLU (& other crazies) shut up!
Report Post »vennoye
Posted on August 4, 2011 at 4:46pmAm glad to see some justice here!! If they happened, they should be in the record of the meeting.
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