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his remarkable scene took place in late 2014 at a conference of judges and clergy from throughout the region and represented broad and diverse religious traditions. Under the leadership of Judge Jim Mize, participants met for a day-long program to exchange thoughts about how deeply held religious beliefs of judges and litigants impact one’s experience with the judicial system. It was a challenging topic about which I was asked to offer some remarks.
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Although some clergy in attendance had once practiced law, I believe Judge Mize turned to me because I served as a judge before becoming an Episcopal priest. My first reaction to the invitation was to recognize that many clergy in attendance would consider such a background for a priest to be a bit problematic. For while I am able to wholeheartedly embrace the title “judge” when I hear a lesson depicting Deborah or one of the other more inspirational judges in the He-
SACRAMENTO LAWYER | May/June 2015 | www.sacbar.org
brew Bible, I get a bit squeamish about the title when I hear the Parable of the Unjust Judge–an oft quoted lesson in the Christian New Testament. It is then that I often see parishioners look at me with a wry smile or a wink. Nonetheless, I had to agree with Jim that for the judges and clergy meeting that day, I was able to offer a perspective from both sides. I spent five years on the Sacramento trial court, making decisions in death penalty cases, child custody determinations,