Alabama Supreme Court Justice Tom Parker claimed a major victory today against the Southern Poverty Law Center with a settlement in a case triggered by an SPLC attack on Parker.
The settlement in Parker v Judicial Inquiry Commission draws to a close an investigation brought by the SPLC against Parker for comments on a radio show regarding the U.S. Supreme Court same-sex marriage decision.
The settlement will make permanent an injunction that judicial canons prohibiting judges from speaking out on issues of public concern and other cases and decisions are unconstitutional and cannot be enforced.
“This agreement highlights the illegitimacy of SPLC efforts to throw me off the Supreme Court merely because I disagreed with the Supreme Court’s marriage decision in a radio interview,” said Justice Parker, a candidate for Chief Justice in Tuesday’s primary.
Parker said the agreement also shows that standing up to leftist bullies like the SPLC is the right thing to do.
“It’s certainly easier to remain quiet and collect a paycheck than to stand up for what you believe and put it all on the line,” Parker said. “I was not elected to be a docile and quiet voice, but to be a strong and aggressive advocate for the Constitution. The Obergefell decision was without constitutional support and an abrogation of States Rights. I hope to see it overturned someday and the Constitution restored.
The settlement agreement also awards $100,000 in legal fees to Liberty Counsel, which the Southern Poverty Law Center has designated as a “Hate Group.”
“The Southern Poverty Law Center has terrorized and bullied conservatives and Christians for decades with false charges of racism and bigotry,” Justice Parker said. “I believe this agreement today is the beginning of the end for this radical hate-sowing organization.”
CONTACT: Trey Edwards 256-856-9285
