Alabama Chief Would Defy Some Rulings

Gov. Fob James has told the U.S. Supreme Court that he believes government officials should defy high court decisions they consider unconstitutional.

James made the comments in written arguments filed Friday asking the Supreme Court to overturn the decision of a judge who limited religious practices in DeKalb County schools.

On Monday, the governor asked the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse U.S. District Judge Ira DeMent. The judge sided with a parent who claimed in a lawsuit that DeKalb schools unconstitutionally promoted Christianity in the classroom.

James, a Republican, contends that Supreme Court justices have purposely ignored the Constitution to create new “rights.”

“In the absence of this court’s acceptance of constitutional limitations, other constitutional officials owe no ‘deference’ to the decision of this court,” the governor said.

“No constitutional official of integrity should exercise the authority of his or her office so as to legitimize this court’s claim of unlimited power.”