Colorado Supreme Court and the Bible

A very troubling decision out of the Colorado Supreme Court.  A panel of the state's highest court threw out the sentence of a man who was given the death penalty because jurors consulted a Bible during deliberations. The Bible, the court said, constituted an improper outside influence and a reliance on what the court called a "higher authority."  "The judicial system works very hard to emphasize the rarified, solemn and sequestered nature of jury deliberations," the majority said in a 3-to-2 decision by a panel of the state's highest court. "Jurors must deliberate in that atmosphere without the aid or distraction of extraneous texts."  This decision is very disturbing.

Also, the Supreme Court of the United States refused to get involved in a case out of Idaho where a federal appeals court rejected a parental permission law.  By permitting the decision of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit to stand, now girls under the age of 18 will be permitted to get abortions without parental consent.

On the Terri Schiavo matter, I am exploring with our senior legal team the few remaining legal options that may be available in this case.  As you know, Terri is in her 12th day without a feeding tube that was removed by a Florida court order removing the tube March 18th.  Terri's parents say she has a strong will to live and continues to fight to stay alive.  At the same time, without nutrition and hydration, the parents also say she continues to weaken.  Please continue to pray for Terri and her family.