A nonprofit watchdog group filed an ethics complaint against the judge who gave Amber Guyger a hug and a Bible after presiding over the former Dallas police officer’s murder trial.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation, which describes itself as a “nonprophet nonprofit” seeking “to promote nontheism and defend the constitutional separation between religion and government,” sent a letter to the State Commission on Judicial Conduct in Texas, complaining that State District Judge Tammy Kemp’s “proselytizing actions overstepped judicial authority, were inappropriate and were unconstitutional.”
Guyger, 31, was sentenced Wednesday to 10 years in prison for fatally shooting Botham Jean, 26, during what she claimed was an accident. In what became a viral moment, Jean’s 18-year-old brother, Brandt, then publicly forgave her, embraced her, and urged her to become a Christian. Kemp afterward descended from the stand and also hugged Guyger, giving her a Bible and turning it to John 3:16. “This is where you start,” Kemp said, assuring Guyger that God “has a purpose for you” and that she can be forgiven.
Judge Tammy Kemp steps off the bench, hands Amber Guyger her personal bible and tells her to read and live John 3:16, then hugs Guyger.
Watch live: https://t.co/86S3jPDqCg#AmberGuygerTrial pic.twitter.com/U1oGEQW7I5— NBC DFW (@NBCDFW) October 2, 2019
Audio and video of Kemp’s actions were “sufficient to show an ethics violation,” the Freedom From Religion Foundation said. Conceding that “it was an emotional moment,” especially after Brandt forgave his brother’s killer, the Foundation said Kemp’s “compassion crossed the line into coercion.”
“It appears from the exchange that Guyger may not have identified as Christian, but Guyger’s religion does not change the constitutional or ethical analysis,” the letter continued. “Even were Guyger an avowed devout Christian, the gesture would still have been inappropriate and unconstitutional because Judge Kemp was acting in her official governmental capacity.” Going on to cite Supreme Court precedent, the letter claimed while Kemp is free to spread her faith as a private citizen, she was forbidden to do so when “in a government courtroom, dressed in a judicial robe, with all of the imprimatur of the state, including armed law enforcement officers.”
“Delivering bibles and personally witnessing as a judge is an egregious abuse of power,” the complaint concluded, and urged the Commission to “investigate these actions for violations of the Code of Judicial Conduct” and ensure it never happens again.
The Foundation also sent a letter of complaint to Republican Kentucky Gov. Matt Bevin on Thursday, alleging his proclamation promoting “Bring Your Bible to School Day” is “divisive” and “sectarian.” They also scolded Bevin for showing “remarkable obtuseness” about a book they said is filled with claims that are “patently absurd.”
READ THE COMPLAINT BELOW:
