SOUTH BEND, Indiana, September 28, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – The attorney representing the pro-lifers arrested while protesting Obama at Notre Dame today repeated his request that the judge in the case, who is married to a pro-abortion Notre Dame professor, be removed from the case.
Attorney Tom Dixon’s motion provides detailed support for his assertion in a previous recusal motion that there exists sufficient actual and perceived bias that Judge Jenny Pitts Manier, the judge assigned to the “ND 88” case, is required by Indiana state law to recuse herself in the matter. Dixon states that ever since Judge Manier has known her husband, Professor Edward Manier, he has been a well-known and outspoken advocate of the pro-abortion position.
As his views were well-known and have largely defined his identity at Notre Dame, Dixon argues, it seems implausible that Judge Manier could claim to be unaware of his views on the “ND 88” case, which stem from “the single biggest controversy in the history of the University of Notre Dame.” [reference]
Bad enough that the university employs this pro-abortion professor and has even published a book on abortion under the universitiy’s press.
8 comments
You hold yourself and your cause in too great an esteem. The biggest controversy in Notre Dame history was whether or not the forward pass, invented by Knute Rockney in 1913, was legal in the game of football.
It was not. Knute was an inveterate cheater and remained so all of his life. In this case, they changed the rule book and a legend was born.
Me, I cheer on teams from Catholic universities such as Franciscan U.
You hold yourself and your cause in too great an esteem.
Objecting to the deliberate killing of innocent humans is a universal cause.
ND = Glorified repository of apostasy, heresy, schism, and secular socialism.
This is one more example of the law being applied one way when it fits the values and worldview of those holding the power, and another way when it is applied to those with whom they disagree. Mark Steyn had an excellent post yesterday on the Corner at National Review (http://corner.nationalreview.com/). He quotes Lloyd Marcus, a black conservative, on how we must look behind the words of those who apply the rules differently for those they oppose. For instance, he cited liberal bloggers who had no problem posting pictures of Condoleeza Rice as Aunt Jemima or hoping that Clarence Thomas would die an early death. However, they scream “racism!” when opposition is expressed to President Obama’s policies.
Marcus says that behind this hypocrisy lies great fear. They fear people like Sara Palin and those involved in the pro-life movement. Why? Because if abortion is taken away from them, their lifestyle may have to change. The selfish mindset of the abortion crowd does not want to give up one inch of self-gratification in exchange for self-sacrifice.
Unfortunately, I do not hold out great hope that Judge Manier will recuse herself. There will probably not be a call for her to do so by the powers that be. If, however, the judge were part of a pro-life prayer group, you could imagine the clamor to have her step down!
Clearly a change of venue is in order. How about back in time, to the Court of Requests in the days of Saint Thomas More?
Clearly Notre Shame is a sick haven of heresy and rebellion. No faithful Catholic should have any truck with it.
Recusal and change of venue are two different issues. It seems there is a good shot at showing bias of the judge (recusal), but we really have no evidence at this point on potential bias of the community, which is from where a jury pool would be drawn (change of venue). Who knows, there may be just as many South Benders who support the ND 88 as oppose them, or have no opinion.