MONTGOMERY, Ala., May 27 (UPI) -- The judge ousted from the Alabama Supreme Court because of his refusal to remove a Ten Commandments monument is appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Roy Moore was removed as chief justice of Alabama last November by the state Court of the Judiciary for ethics violations. In asking the U.S. Supreme Court to become involved, Moore said he will appeal no due process and right to exercise the religion of his choice.
"I'm appealing this decision because of the hypocrisy of the judicial system ... The federal courts open with 'God save the United States and this honorable court' and take their oaths 'so help me God,' and then take away public acknowledgement of God," Moore said in a statement to the Birmingham News.
Moore had a 2.6-ton granite block with the Ten Commandments etched into it installed in the Alabama Supreme Court building in 2001. He was ordered to remove the monument but refused. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson said the monument was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion. The U.S. Supreme Court last November refused to hear Moore's appeal of Thompson's ruling.
