In a case before the Court, how should a judge handle a conflict between his/her personal beliefs and the law?
Judges are human and each human has his or her own personal beliefs. Our beliefs are part of what make each one of us unique. However, judges are required to take an oath of office. The oath of office states as follows: “I solemnly swear that I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Alabama, so long as I continue a citizen thereof; and that I will faithfully and honestly discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter, to the best of my ability. So help me God.” When I was commissioned as a lieutenant in the United States Army, I took a similar oath to support and defend the Constitution. Judges are absolutely obligated to follow the law and be sure that in every decision, the judge’s personal beliefs are subservient to the law. This goes back to what I mentioned previously about having the courage and the backbone to do what is right, regardless of political pressures that may exist. Part of what gives society predict
