Two bills to ban Sharia law in Georgia courts
Because we can’t let Oklahoma get ahead of us, state lawmakers could soon debate the “American Laws for Georgia Courts Act.” From the Fulton County Daily Report and Law.com:
House Bill 45, introduced by Rep. Mike Jacobs, R-Atlanta, states “it shall be the public policy of this state to protect its citizens from the application of foreign laws when the application … will result in the violation of a right guaranteed by the Constitution of this state or of the United States.” The bill also would prevent arbitrators or tribunals from enforcing a foreign law that didn’t meet constitutional standards.
Jacobs, a lawyer and vice chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, told the Fulton County Daily Report the bill would “ban the use of Sharia law in state courts.” He acknowledged that he was not aware of any instances in Georgia where a plaintiff or defendant asked the court to apply Sharia law but believes it has happened elsewhere.
“We’re seeing more of a feeling that Sharia law should be applied in domestic cases,” he said, such as divorces.
The chairman of the House Judiciary panel, Rep. Wendell Willard, R-Sandy Springs, has signed on as a sponsor but hedged when asked whether he supports the bill.
“I want to see what comes up in hearings,” Willard said, to answer this question: “Does it serve a real purpose or is that standard [that federal and state laws trump foreign laws] already recognized by courts in the state?”M. Khurram Baig, a litigator with Kumar, Prabhu, Patel & Banerjee in Atlanta and a member of the Georgia Association of Muslim Lawyers, said the answer is no: “I don’t know of any instance where foreign law has prevailed in a Georgia court ever. So why is this necessary?”
But Jacob’s isn’t the only bill on the topic. State Sen. Judson Hill, R-Marietta, has a similar measure — SB 51.
- By Jim Galloway, Political Insider
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170 comments Add your comment
MS
February 9th, 2011
9:06 am
Anything that works to reduce any potential influence on U.S. laws by the horrid religion of islam is a good move in my book. Keep the muslim trash in the middle east where it belongs
RT
February 9th, 2011
9:08 am
Speech of Geert Wilders at the resumption of his trial in Amsterdam today:
The lights are going out all over Europe. All over the continent where our culture flourished and where man created freedom, prosperity and civilization. Everywhere the foundation of the West is under attack.
All over Europe the elites are acting as the protectors of an ideology that has been bent on destroying us since fourteenth centuries. An ideology that has sprung from the desert and that can produce only deserts because it does not give people freedom. The Islamic Mozart, the Islamic Gerard Reve [a Dutch author], the Islamic Bill Gates; they do not exist because without freedom there is no creativity. The ideology of Islam is especially noted for killing and oppression and can only produce societies that are backward and impoverished. Surprisingly, the elites do not want to hear any criticism of this ideology.
jconservative
February 9th, 2011
9:08 am
I would support keeping “law” from any religion out of the courts.
I would think the Supremacy Clause from the US Constitution would cover any problem, real or perceived.
“This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.”
MS
February 9th, 2011
9:09 am
And before the bleeding hearts come in here and chide me for religious intolerance, I don’t want the christian bible bangers legislating their morality upon me, either.
However, in the 21st century, it isn’t christians killing Americans. It’s the savage followers of the cult of islam, so that is why I want its influence stamped out in this nation.
Jeff
February 9th, 2011
9:11 am
MS:
It isn’t Christians killing Americans? Timothy McVeigh comes to mind. The guy that killed the abortion doc *at his church* in 2009 comes to mind. The various abortion clinic bombs come to mind. I could go on and on and on – it is only in the news *nearly every day*!
DR DMAN
February 9th, 2011
9:11 am
You LIBS are SOOOOOO obvious…! Do you guys get your TALKING POINTS… DIRECTLY from George Soros, or from one of the hundreds of ANTI-AMERICA, ANTI-INDIVIDUAL, ANTI-DECENCY… organizations he supports??? Look back at the previous post, they sound like a broken record – or, more accurately, ZOMBIE-LIKE… brainless… MARXIST/SOCIALIST… anti-freedom loving Progressives! The sad truth is that IF/WHEN your MUSLIM-loving leaders DO reach their goals and Sharia law IS allowed to supersede our Constitution… and they start killing Gays, legally raping women and forcing YOU to become ‘one of them’ – you will become the FIRST to ask why “someone” didn’t see this coming! Blind… braindead… folks who would have loved Neville Chamberlain!
zeke
February 9th, 2011
9:14 am
You can forget about jobs until the state and federal governments get the heel out of the way of businesses and taxpayers! All they need to do is reduce personal income taxes and eliminate corporate taxes and get out of the way! THE JOBS WILL FLOW!!!
CD
February 9th, 2011
9:14 am
To everyone saying that Islam is making Europe a dangerous unsafe place and it used to be a bastion of tranquility has blinders on to the last century of European history. Excluding the whole World War I and II minor events and the Communists killing millions of people there has been other violence. The IRA for years killed people. the separatists in Spain killed people, the anarchists throughout Europe have killed people and the mob in Italy throughout the years assassinated public officials.
To Wondering
February 9th, 2011
9:15 am
This bill is totally unnecessary since the Federal and State constitution spell out fairly clearly that our country and state are subject to the laws created by our legislators and lawmakers.
This is not unlike a law preventing people from flapping their arms and flying, while the law of gravity and several well accepted principles of aerodynamics tell us that’s not something we need to worry too much about.
RT
February 9th, 2011
9:16 am
how would you like this in your country…forced marriage……7th century behavior….wow
http://www.jihadwatch.org/2010/12/uk-court-strikes-down-forced-marriage-law.html
To DR DMAN
February 9th, 2011
9:18 am
Please, switch off the Fox News and step outside and get some fresh air, it will do you good.
Jeff
February 9th, 2011
9:19 am
Those using Europe as an example: Remember, NO COUNTRY in Europe has a Constitution quite like ours, specifically in regard to the First Amendment and Supremacy clauses.
You Glenn Beck Parrots really are showing yourselves to be (nearly?) as insane is he himself is.
Commentary buzz – Garysworld USA – Feb 9th - GarysWorld USA
February 9th, 2011
9:29 am
[...] GA: Two bills to ban Sharia law in Georgia courts [...]
TJC
February 9th, 2011
9:30 am
Some people still don’t understand that it is not the federal or state governments job to create jobs. When the government creates jobs they have to take more money from the tax payer to pay the salaries of the jobs they create. The government doesn’t have any money other then what they take from us to give to others. As for Sharia law, there are several states that have been trying to use in during court cases when muslims are invovlved. Sharia law has no business in our courts in any way. Just remmeber that Sharia law say’s it is okay for the husband to beat his wife, or rape her.
Chode McBlob
February 9th, 2011
9:32 am
The Muslims can practice it in their own homes since we have religious freedom here but beyond the front door it doesn’t apply here.
LawDawg
February 9th, 2011
9:33 am
This is a pretty solid use of time considering how many radical Muslim judges have been elected in Georgia. I know every day I look around the courthouse in Dekalb and say “gee, I wish I had brought my Quran today because obviously that is the book Judge X is going to make me argue from.” Bravo, Mike Jacobs, you dishonest, pandering nothing of a human.
Poke 'em with a stick.
February 9th, 2011
9:34 am
While we’re in the process of banning religious laws, can we get the damned “In god We Trust” off of our money and keep the schools out of friggin worship centers
John
February 9th, 2011
9:35 am
“Just remmeber that Sharia law say’s it is okay for the husband to beat his wife, or rape her.”
So do many Christians, what’s your point?
Note: The language of this bill bars Mosaic law as well as Sharia. In other words, no more regulations of drugs, alcohol, marriage, food safety, and many other issues…
John
February 9th, 2011
9:36 am
@Chode McBlob – So it’s OK for a man to rape and beat his wife as long as it’s in his own home? It’s OK for a man to kill his daughter for embarrassing the family as long as it’s in his own home? WOW! What a concept!
LawDawg
February 9th, 2011
9:36 am
CD: Your use of facts has no place here. Obviously Muslims are thisclose to taking over the GA judicial system. TAKE OFF THOSE BLINDERS YOU MARXIST, NEVILLE CHAMBERLAIN, SOMETHING ABOUT SOCIALISM AND OBAMA!!!!!!!!!
The Anti-Wooten
February 9th, 2011
9:38 am
Just a few thoughts on this topic and many of the posts herein:
Ban all religious involvement in government at any level, immediate recission of tax exempt status for any infraction.
The US Constitution of like nothing else in the world making these arguments moot.
TrishaDishaWarEagle, did you hear about the football player that transferred from UGA to Auburn? It raised the IQ of both states.
Finally, in response to so many posters, “AHHHHH, the stupid! It burns!”
Lum
February 9th, 2011
9:39 am
I support it.
DwayneL
February 9th, 2011
9:48 am
We absolutely need this law passed! You people need to read up on muslims and their desire to rule the world. Their wacked out shari law is already being used in some European countries and once they get enough people here they will try the same thing.
Prez Obozo
February 9th, 2011
9:54 am
Khurram Baig. Unless you plan on supporting the savage Sharia law in the future, why do you not think this is necessary?
LawDawg
February 9th, 2011
9:58 am
DwayneL: I also want to rule the world, should they also be passing laws to prevent LawDawgism from being used in Georgia courts?
A dad
February 9th, 2011
10:02 am
For those of you raising a ruckus over this, I guess you haven’t heard of the trial up in Philadelphia where the Paskistani man BEHEADED his wife (which is permissible under Sharia law for an honor killing, adultery, etc.) who had filed for divorce. I think it’s trying to nip any such nonsense in the bud, cuase you know lawyers will try anything and everything to win a case.
Tom
February 9th, 2011
10:04 am
You folks in the east Cobb/Sandy Springs district of State Senator Judson Hill…..
Call his office and ask how it can be that he supports this bill….which bans application of laws that prove to be unconstitutional….yet is against the repeal of Georgia’s “blue law” against Sunday sales…which I, he, you, and everyone knows is unconstitutional.
Jim, you need to contact Senator Hill and get ask him to reconcile this blatant contradiction.
And while we’re at it, can someone please thump Kay Godwin upside her head with her own bible and tell her she is NOT a true conservative….she is a THEOCRAT.
Intown
February 9th, 2011
10:07 am
I used to have respect for Mike Jacobs. He has succumbed to the darker side of Georgia politics.
John
February 9th, 2011
10:07 am
dad:
Isn’t the man being tried under *US laws* for MURDER? Kinda disproves your point…
luangtom
February 9th, 2011
10:12 am
Look at our counterparts in Europe. Do y’all see the application of Sharia-law there? It does not fit well with a representative form of governance. It will not fit well here either. The court-system here has served the whole country since its inception, why is there need to change it now for the sake of appeasing a small minority of those not wishing to assimilate into this culture? The reason this country has been called a “melting-pot” is due to its effective assimilation of the different cultures and its citizens moving here and banding together to form this republic. We do not need Sharia-law.
phil c
February 9th, 2011
10:16 am
Remember, you’re innocent until you run out of money to pay your lawyer (or hire the judge’s idiot nephew at your business), then you’re on your own.
frank
February 9th, 2011
10:18 am
I cant see how this is helping create jobs. Or helping education.
FREEDOM!
February 9th, 2011
10:23 am
you can have all you want… as long as we approve. – GOP
Prez Obozo
February 9th, 2011
10:26 am
MS @ 9:00 am – YOU are the product of very BAD parenting!
Just Do It
February 9th, 2011
10:27 am
Pass it. We don’t need or want Sharia law infecting our country.
Devil's Advocate
February 9th, 2011
10:30 am
Itsn’t it ironic how we Americans do not want others imposing their laws, traditions or religions upon us but we invade, occupy, and terrorize other countries to follow our lead into the blissness of democracy? Just a thought.
Billy Bob
February 9th, 2011
10:31 am
Great – another great and much needed law, written by GOP lobbyists, passed by the GOP legislature, signed by our GOP governor and it will be unconditional obeyed by all the god-fearin’ GOP citizens of GA.
We have heaven on earth since the state was taken over by the republicans 10 years ago – no traffic problems, no crime, no pollution, no unemployment, no corruption and we’ve replaced Alabama as the butt of all redneck jokes!
BTW, notice how the WarEagle part explains the rest of TrishaDisha…
flixoman
February 9th, 2011
10:35 am
Funny how people will rant and rave that they are anti-Sharia…and two breaths later invoke the Bible. No need for a double standard, one standard will do just fine.
We need to get rid of ALL “blue laws.”
BlueDawg
February 9th, 2011
10:37 am
Wow, to see all the small goverment conservatives who get up in arms about the government passing stupid pointless laws cheering this on is hilarious. The 14th Ammendment to the United States Constituion reads:
Section 1. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
Applying Sharia law to Muslims invalidates the Equal protection clause of the 14th Ammendment because it creates unequal protection ruling it immediately unconstitutional.
Whoever said the Founding Fathers didn’t have Radical Muslims in mind when the Constitution was being written don’t know history very well. Read up on the Barbary Pirates. They are where the line ‘The Shores of Tripoli’ in the Marine Corps Hymn comes from. They were Radical Muslims who lived all along the coast of North Africa. They were most famous for taking Europeans as slaves. They captured hundreds of thousands of people over about 300 years and most of the nations of Europe (including the US till about 1800) actually paid tribute to them to leave their ships alone. The US spent 20% of it’s GDP in 1800 to payoff the Barbary Pirates, and lead to the formation of the US Navy. So I think the founding fathers knew what Radical Muslims were. Tactics have changed over the past 200 years but the Barbary Pirates were not too different in their views of Islam than Al Queda or other Radical Muslim groups today. But the US survived the Barbary Pirates and we will survive Al Queda as long as we don’t destroy ourselves in the process by letting terror replace freedom with security.
PMC
February 9th, 2011
10:42 am
So does this mean we can buy alcohol on sunday and gamble too?
Sideshow Bill
February 9th, 2011
10:42 am
@Chris, here ya go, a nationwide organization with chapters at UGA and GSU
http://www.clsnet.org/
ls
February 9th, 2011
10:52 am
just like the Haitian that fed alcohol to their baby. The baby died from alchol poisioning but before they make any charges they want to check the Haitian laws, beliefs, etc to see what it says about alcohol and children. Utterly repulsive.
Steve
February 9th, 2011
10:57 am
They forgot to ban Judeo Christian law too. They are also very oppressive. Laws in the United States must be based on reaason only. Fundametalist witchcraft practiced by today’s Christains is nonsense.
juicius
February 9th, 2011
10:58 am
Alabama Communist:
Those dastardly fabrics. I knew I disliked muslin for a reason! If you like reasonably priced fabric that breathes well and is ideal for a hot climate, you’re letting the terrorists win!
flintrock70
February 9th, 2011
10:59 am
So, about those jobs the GAGOPers are supposed to be creating…?
John
February 9th, 2011
11:07 am
This is a waste of time. You already can’t make rulings or pass legislation that violates the Constitution. Further, Georgia judges must apply Georgia law, not foreign law, in cases like domestic cases.
Progressive Conservative
February 9th, 2011
11:18 am
How about we burn any time on this AFTER there has been any inkling of Sharia law creeping into domestic cases of divorce and spousal abuse? This is SO far away from a concern in Georgia and not an area we need to be breaking ground on. Sounds like posturing for a political campaign somewhere else like NJ or playing to the ignorance of some Georgia voters who will vote for anything/anyone anti-Muslim. This should be very, very low on the priority list for the General Assembly. Come on guys – get to the real work and stop goofing around!
Cal - Team Infidel
February 9th, 2011
11:30 am
TrishaWarEagle- I like you girl! You keep speaking the truth – wonderful legislation that needs to be passed to protect the idiots like some of the comments I have seen on here, from their religion of peace – or should it be pieces?
lol. Keep speaking the truth!
Cal - Team Infidel
February 9th, 2011
11:33 am
Steve,
I am a weird Christian – in the sense that I would love for you to be saved – but at the end of the day – its your decision – and not mine – so if you want to go to hell – so be it
Be a Atheist, agnostic, witch, buddhist, muslim, etc etc etc – I frankly don’t give a damn.
However, you have freedom to believe in God – under Islam – your either Islamic or your dead – so you remember that when those muslim savages come – and after they have killed those of us, that won’t submit – they will kill you then.
My Say
February 9th, 2011
11:34 am
While all of you are busy trying to paint the legislators of this bill with tinfoil hats, know that Sharia Law just killed a Pakistani child because she was RAPED by a 40 yr old cousin so she was considered an adulterer because he was married. His family was allowed to beat her and then she was sentenced to 100 lashes in the streets but only made it to 70 before she died. This is Sharia Law.
If you are gay you are hanged. If you are a woman you are allowed to be beat and raped daily by your husband. You are sold like a slave to the highest bidder for marriage and are not allowed to have a voice nor show your face.
As one poster already stated, we have already had issues with it in our court system. So while you Progressives sit and contradict yourselves by defending a religious code that hates women and gays, cuts off body parts, stones, lashes and hangs people in the street, watch out because yes we have already had instances here in the States where its proceeded OUR own laws as a Nation.